Synchronous solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura and lung cancer.

We report herein on a 57-year-old woman with comorbid malignant solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) of the pleura and adenocarcinoma of the lung. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient presenting with these two pathological entities simultaneously. The patient was treated successfully for both diseases via a one-stage operation through median sternotomy with good results.

Pulmonary paragonimiasis mimicking lung cancer on FDG-PET imaging.

The case of a 48-year-old man with pulmonary paragonimiasis mimicking lung cancer on positron emission tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) imaging is reported herein. Plain radiography and computed tomography (CT) of the chest showed a nodular lesion at the left pulmonary hilum. Lung cancer was strongly suggested from standardized uptake values determined on FDG-PET imaging; however, repeat chest CT revealed the lesion to have decreased in size.

Double autoimmunostaining with glycine treatment.

Double autoimmunostaining by a sequential twice-repeated enzyme-labeled polymer method was examined on archival paraffin sections of formalin-fixed human tissue using an autoimmunostaining apparatus to determine optimal conditions for glycine treatment, to select the best combination of dyes for the horseradish peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide reaction, and to investigate mounting methods for preparing permanent specimens. The optimal glycine treatment determined by changing the incubation time in 0.1 M glycine hydrochloride buffer, pH 2.

Cured tuberculoid patients have a greater life expectancy than cured lepromatous patients in Japan.

Leprosy patients lack specific cellular immunity against Mycobacterium leprae, but other immunological functions are thought to be preserved. However, in a leprosy sanatorium in South Japan between 1982 and 2000, we found that the average age at death of cured lepromatous leprosy patients was about 5 yrs younger than that of cured tuberculoid patients; [male/lepromatous, 76.0 +/- 10.

Morphological and biochemical studies of human beta-mannosidosis: identification of a novel beta-mannosidase gene mutation.

Background: There are seven well-known lysosomal storage diseases that produce angiokeratoma corporis diffusum clinically. beta-Mannosidosis (MANB1; OMIM248510), first reported in humans in 1986, is a rare hereditary lysosomal storage disease caused by a deficiency of the enzyme beta-mannosidase. Since then, 13 cases of beta-mannosidase deficiency in ten families have been described.

Gianotti-Crosti syndrome associated with endogenous reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus.

A 6-year-old girl with Gianotti-Crosti syndrome, which appeared to be caused by a reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), is presented. The patient had had infectious mononucleosis at the age of 3 years. Since the titer of anti-EBV capsid antigen antibody was high at 1,280 and the titer of early antigen DR IgG, which increases during the early stage or reactivation, was high at 80 during the recovery stage, the patient was diagnosed as having Gianotti-Crosti syndrome associated with reactivation of EBV.

Plexiform schwannoma.

We present a case of plexiform schwannoma, a rare benign peripheral nerve sheath tumour characterized by a multinodular and plexiform growth pattern, that had slowly grown for 40 years on the trunk of a 64-year-old woman. Preoperative biopsy findings, such as a high cellularity and the extent of nuclear atypia of the tumour, led us to suspect a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour; but ultimately a benign plexiform schwannoma was diagnosed based on an immunohistochemical review of the excised tumour using various markers including S-100 and Ki67 (MIB1).

Novel mutations in GJB2 encoding connexin-26 in Japanese patients with keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness syndrome.

Background: Germline missense mutations in the GJB2 gene that encodes connexin-26 (Cx26) have recently been found to be the cause of the keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome.

Objectives: To define the GJB2 mutations in three Japanese patients with KID syndrome.

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and used to amplify the GJB2 gene.

A single-stage video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery procedure for simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax in a supine position.

We report on the case of a 23-year-old man with simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax (SBSP), treated with bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in a supine position. SBSP is a very rare condition that can be life-threatening when therapeutic techniques fail. We performed a unique operative procedure for SBSP using one-stage bilateral VATS in a supine position.

Method to overcome photoreaction, a serious drawback to the use of dichlorofluorescin in evaluation of reactive oxygen species.

Non-fluorescent dichlorofluorescin (DCFH) was converted to fluorescent products by photo-irradiation during observations with spectrofluorometer and fluorescence microscopy. Photo-irradiation of DCFH at 250, 300, 330, 400, 500, or 600 nm generated fluorescent dichlorofluorescein (DCF), an oxidation product of DCFH, and an unrecognized fluorescent product. The ratio of the unknown product to DCF varied from 0.

5-Hydroxytryptamine7 (5-HT7) receptor immunoreactivity-positive 'stigmoid body'-like structure in developing rat brains.

We examined the expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine(7) (5-HT(7)) receptor protein in developing and adult rats with immunohistochemical technique. In adult male rats, 5-HT(7) receptor immunoreactivity was detected in the septum, striatum, indusium griseum, tenia tecta, thalamus, hippocampus and hypothalamus in the forebrain as well as the pons and cerebellum. In brains of 1, 7, 15 and 21 days old male rats but not of adult ones, 5-HT(7) receptor immunoreactivity-positive dot-like structures were detected.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1-associated retinal vasculitis in children.

Purpose: To describe predominant retinal vasculitis in children carrying human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1).

Methods: The authors examined clinical records of patients with HTLV-1-associated uveitis between 1987 and 2001 in Kagoshima University Hospital and reviewed cases of extensive, smoldering retinal vasculitis.

Results: Three previously healthy teenagers noted mild visual symptoms and presented with extensive sheathing of retinal vessels, complicated by mild anterior segment inflammation.

Effects of recombinant human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (rh-TIMP-2) on migration of epidermal keratinocytes in vitro and wound healing in vivo.

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP), common inhibitors of matrix proteinases, have cell-promoting activity. We studied the effects of recombinant human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (rh-TIMP-2) on the migration of normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK). An in vitro migration assay revealed that rh-TIMP-2 enhanced random migration (up to 170%, p<0.

Expression of MUC1 and MUC2 mucins in extrahepatic bile duct carcinomas: its relationship with tumor progression and prognosis.

Our previous immunohistochemical studies in the pancreas, intrahepatic bile duct, and ampulla of Vater demonstrated that an invasive carcinoma with a poor outcome showed a pattern of MUC1 (membrane-bound mucin) positive and MUC2 (intestinal-type secretory mucin) negative, whereas many of the non-invasive tumors with favorable outcome showed a pattern of MUC1 negative and MUC2 positive. The aim of this study is to compare the expression profiles of MUC1 and MUC2 mucins in extrahepatic bile duct carcinomas to gain insight into the relationship between the biological nature of the carcinomas and the role of mucins. We examined the expression profiles of MUC1 of different glycoforms and MUC2 in 60 extrahepatic bile duct carcinomas using immunohistochemistry.

Efficacy of topical tacrolimus for treating the malar rash of systemic lupus erythematosus.

The rash of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is usually treated with topical corticosteroids, but prolonged use causes adverse cutaneous side-effects. We assessed the efficacy of topical tacrolimus for treating the skin lesions of SLE. Three patients with SLE affecting their facial skin applied 0.

Improvement of supersensitive immunohistochemistry with an autostainer: a simplified catalysed signal amplification system.

The ImmunoMax/catalysed signal amplification (CSA) system is a supersensitive method of paraffin immunohistochemistry. It incorporates antigen retrieval, the streptavidin-biotin complex (sABC) method, and the catalysing reporter deposition/catalysing biotinylated tyramide reaction. Strong, non-specific cytoplasmic reaction in the ImmunoMax/CSA is due to endogenous biotin unmasked in the antigen retrieval step.

Intrapleural perfusion hyperthermo-chemotherapy under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for malignant pleural dissemination: a case report.

We report the case of a 45-year-old man treated with intrathoracic hyperthermo-chemotherapy (IPHC) under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for malignant pleural dissemination originating from invasive thymoma. The clinical course of invasive thymoma with malignant pleural dissemination is characterized by early and frequent metastasis and poor survival. In this case, we performed IPHC under VATS with good results.

Gap junction protein beta 1 (GJB1) mutations and central nervous system symptoms in X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Objectives: To clarify the clinical variability, including central nervous system (CNS) involvement, in X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMTX) patients.

Material And Methods: We clinically, pathologically and genetically studied six CMTX patients with distinct symptoms and four different GJB1 mutations.

Results: One patient with Val63Ile had deafness, low intelligence, saccadic eye movement, upper extremity distal dominant muscle weakness and normal sensation.

Expression of mucins (MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC6) in mucinous carcinoma of the breast: comparison with invasive ductal carcinoma.

Aims: Mucinous carcinoma of the breast usually shows less frequent lymph node metastasis and more favourable outcome compared with invasive ductal carcinoma. The aim of this study is to compare the expression profiles of several mucins in mucinous carcinomas and invasive ductal carcinomas to gain insight into the relationship between the less aggressive biological nature of mucinous carcinoma and the role of mucins.

Methods And Results: We examined the expression profiles of MUC1 (membrane-bound mucin) of different glycoforms (from non-glycosylated form to fully glycosylated form), MUC2 (intestinal type secretory mucin), MUC5AC (gastric surface type secretory mucin) and MUC6 (gastric pyloric gland type secretory mucin) in 17 mucinous carcinomas and 46 invasive ductal carcinomas using immunohistochemistry.

Primary chylopericardium treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Here, we report on a 30-year-old female with primary chylopericardium who successfully underwent thoracic duct clipping and partial pericardiectomy using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Recently, a few cases of this disease have been treated utilizing VATS. This is a fully detailed description of the treatment of primary chylopericardium including a description of intraoperative findings and photographs obtained during the course of VATS.

Effects of a neurosteroid, pregnenolone, during the neonatal period on adenosine A1 receptor, dopamine metabolites in the fronto-parietal cortex and behavioral response in the open field.

Neuronal dysfunction in the frontal cortex has been reported in the etiology of mental disorders, including schizophrenia. The adenosine A(1) receptor system, as well as the dopaminergic system, are important in the control of cortical neuronal activity. We hypothesize that neuroexcitability in early life is critical to the normal development of the brain, and neurosteroids are factors that modulate neuroexcitability during the development period.

Pathological mechanisms of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP).

The recent studies have greatly improved our understanding of the pathological mechanisms of human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The pathological mechanisms of HAM/TSP based on the histopathological, immunological, and molecular analysis with emphasis on the longitudinal alterations of the disease will be discussed. Immunohistological examination revealed the existence and the activation both of HTLV-I-infected CD4+ cells and HTLV-I-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the spinal cord lesions, which suggest that they play an important role in the pathogenesis.

Posterior mitral annuloplasty with a flexible linear reducer.

Objectives: We evaluated posterior annuloplasty results using a flexible linear reducer, especially as a cardiac surgical procedure.

Methods: Subjects were 24 patients consisting of 20 men and 4 women aged 7 to 79 years (mean; 61.3 years) with mitral regurgitation who underwent mitral valve reconstruction using a flexible linear reducer from May 1999 to April 2001.