Nodular scleroderma in a worker using a silica-containing abrasive.

A patient with progressive systemic sclerosis and high levels of serum IgE developed multiple papules at/on an area of non-sclerotic skin. Histologic examination of the papule revealed the typical features of scleroderma. For several years, the patient had been working on polishing watches with an abrasive agent composed mainly of aluminum, chromium dioxide, and silica.

Activated Ki-Ras complements erythropoietin signaling in CTLL-2 cells, inducing tyrosine phosphorylation of a 160-kDa protein.

We have previously shown that expression of erythropoietin (EPO) receptor (EPOR) alone failed to confer EPO responsiveness on the interleukin 2-dependent T-cell line CTLL-2, whereas the introduction of the EPOR into interleukin 3-dependent pro-B-cell lines, such as BAF-B03, allowed the cells to proliferate in response to EPO. Here, we report that additional expression of v-Ki-Ras conferred EPO-dependent growth on CTLL-2 cells expressing the EPOR, with additional formation of a high-affinity EPOR. To investigate possible mechanisms of EPOR downstream signaling induced by v-Ki-Ras expression in these CTLL-2-derived cells, we carried out anti-phosphotyrosine immunoblot analysis of the EPOR complex immunoprecipitated with anti-EPOR antibody from lysates of cells with and without cytokine stimulation, revealing two 160-kDa and 130-kDa phosphotyrosyl proteins.

Scleral cell growth is influenced by retinal pigment epithelium in vitro.

Background: Studies of form-deprivation myopia in chicks have shown that mitotic activity and the amounts of DNA and protein are increased in the sclera of myopic eyes. Signals acting on the sclera have been speculated to have their origin in the retina, especially in the photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Therefore, in this study we investigated the interaction between the RPE cells and the scleral cells in vitro using chick embryo.

The organization of the BCL6 gene.

The chromosomal translocation involving 3q27 has been recently described in B-cell malignancies, especially in diffuse large cell lymphomas. We have previously cloned the breakpoint cluster region of 3q27 designated as the BCL6 locus, previously known as BCL5, and subsequently cloned the cDNA for the BCL6 (we previously reported it as BCL5) gene encoding a novel Cys2-His2 zinc-finger protein, which locates adjacent to the breakpoints and is activated through the translocation. To elucidate whether rearrangements occur within the BCL6 gene, we characterized the genomic structure of the gene.

Oral minocycline improved keratosis follicularis squamosa (Dohi) and related disorder: bacterial factors are possibly involved in abberant keratinization.

Three cases of keratosis follicularis squamosa (Dohi) and one case of papillomatose confluente et reticulee were successfully treated with oral minocycline (50-100 mg/day). The clinical effect first appeared at 2 weeks after the initiation of therapy and no recurrence was observed for more than 3 months without minocycline. Gram positive cocci were demonstrated inside the hair follicle and horny layers in all 4 case.

DNA amplifications and elevated expression of proto-oncogene in addition to altered DNA ploidy in metastatic brain tumors.

The histopathological characteristics, proto-oncogene amplification, immunohistopathology of the c-erbB-2 product distribution, and the DNA content of nuclei were examined in metastatic brain tumors, which consisted of seven adenocarcinomas, a large cell carcinoma, a squamous cell carcinoma, a renal cell carcinoma and a mucoepidermoid carcinoma. A very high incidence of DNA changes was seen in these tumors. Proto-oncogene amplification and abnormal DNA content in the nuclear portion were found in 64% (7/11) and 67% (6/9) of cases, respectively.

Point mutations and allelic deletion of tumor suppressor gene DCC in human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and their relation to metastasis.

Since tumor suppressor gene DCC exhibits amino acid sequence homology to the neural cell adhesion molecule, there is a possibility that DCC might be related to tumor metastasis. In the present study, we examined 51 cases of primary esophageal carcinomas with regard to point mutations and loss of the DCC gene. We detected point mutations in two cases by screening using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis.

Erythropoietin receptor and interleukin-2 receptor use different downstream signaling pathways for proliferation and apoptosis-block.

Erythropoietin (EPO) regulates proliferation and differentiation and prevents apoptosis of erythroid progenitor cells by binding to erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) expressed on the surface of those cells. The mechanism by which EPO signal is transmitted to the cells through EPOR is still unclear. In the present study, we introduced and expressed EPOR in an interleukin-3 (IL-3) dependent pro-B cell line, BAF-B03 and an interleukin-2 (IL-2)-dependent cytotoxic T cell line, CTLL-2 and analyzed their growth response to EPO and the DNA breakdown characteristic to apoptosis after deprivation of the growth factor.

[A case of crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with anti-myeloperoxidase antibody presenting as alveolar hemorrhage].

A 77-year-old man was admitted because of hemoptysis. Chest roentgenograms initially showed progressive infiltrative shadows, which improved spontaneously in 3 months. Transbronchial lung biopsy specimens obtained during the first admission revealed alveolar hemorrhage with neither granuloma nor vasculitis.

DNA alterations in cells from hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer patients.

To determine if the MCC, DCC or p53 gene is associated with susceptibility to hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), these genes in normal cells from 12 HNPCC patients were analysed by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis. No changes which may alter the amino acid sequences of these genes were detected, suggesting that these genes are not associated with the susceptibility to HNPCC. Only one of nine HNPCC cancers showed mutations in the MCC and p53 genes on the same analysis.

Sweet's syndrome with small cell carcinoma of the lung.

We report a 59-year-old male with Sweet's syndrome who developed small cell carcinoma of the lung one year after the initial diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Sweet's syndrome in conjunction with lung cancer. In cases of Sweet's syndrome, a search for not only hematologic disorders but also for solid tumors should be made.

[Epididymal sperm invasion apparently suggestive of a testicular tumor].

A 49-year-old man visited the outpatient clinic suffering from painless swelling of the left testicular content which he had recognized 1 week earlier. The lower portion of the testis or the epididymis gave rise to a thumb-head sized irregular tumor. At the exploring operation, the tumor was revealed to be the swollen epididymal tail.

Prognostic significance of the blast self-renewal capacity in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Background: The proliferation of leukemic cells in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is supported by a small subpopulation of leukemic blast progenitors, which can be detected in methylcellulose and suspension cultures. It is important to determine the association between the biologic properties of leukemic blast progenitors and the clinical prognosis of patients with AML.

Methods: Ninety-five patients with AML and two patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia in blast crisis were studied.

Intravesical mitomycin C and doxorubicin sequential therapy for carcinoma in situ of the bladder: a longer followup result.

A total of 43 patients with carcinoma in situ of the bladder (primary in 26 and secondary in 17) who underwent intravesical mitomycin C and doxorubicin sequential therapy for 2 multicenter studies were followed for a median period of 45 months (range 10 to 84). Of the patients 32 (74%) achieved complete response after induction therapy and underwent maintenance therapy with either mitomycin C plus doxorubicin, mitomycin C alone or observation only. Of the complete responders 13 (41%) had a local recurrence, and subsequent repeat intravesical mitomycin C and doxorubicin sequential therapy as well as bacillus Calmette-Guerin was effective in a significant proportion (75% or greater).

Lower interhemispheric coherence in a case of agenesis of the corpus callosum.

Interhemispheric coherence and relative power were compared in a patient with total agenesis of the corpus callosum and age and sex matched controls. The patient showed lower interhemispheric coherence than normal controls in F3-F4, C3-C4, and in P3-P4 especially in the higher theta, lower alpha, and beta bands. Differences in relative power were much less marked.

Excitatory amino acids: implications for psychiatric disorders research.

The hyperdopaminergic theory of schizophrenia may account for some types of schizophrenia, but schizophrenia with negative symptoms or resulting in a chronic state of deterioration after repeated relapses cannot be explained by this theory. This minireview first discusses the interactions between dopamine and excitatory amino acid (EAA) neurons to produce abnormal behavior. Secondly, it deals with the influence of the psychotropic drugs on EAA, such as the relationship between phencyclidine and the hypoglutamate theory, the involvement of EAA in behavioral sensitization induced by amphetamines, the interactions between antipsychotic, antidepressant and antianxiety drugs and EAA, considering the possibility of developing newer psychotropic drugs related with EAA.

Function and distribution of autonomic receptors in canine ureteral smooth muscle.

There have been only a few reports of the measurement of autonomic receptors in ureteral smooth muscle. Furthermore, it is so difficult to maintain stable spontaneous contractions in the ureter, that either electrical field stimulation or KCl at high concentrations are utilized to induce ureteral contractions in many in vitro ureteral pharmacologic examinations. We used the spiral ureteral strips which generate spontaneous contractions in the ureter in present experiments.

An approach to the hepatic hilus with marked fibrosis: a surgical technique for reconstruction of the bile duct with a benign stricture.

It is very difficult to approach the hepatic hilus safely in patients with common and/or hepatic bile duct strictures in which normal tissue has been replaced by scarred tissue with firm fibrous adhesions. In this report, we describe how eight patients with benign strictures of the bile duct underwent an operation which involved dividing the superior mesenteric and portal veins from the lower margin of the pancreas in a dorsal direction using a finger in a tunneling technique. The common bile duct, which was buried in scar tissue, was then explored, while the common and/or proper hepatic arteries in the hepatoduodenal ligament were confirmed, after transsection at the superior margin of the pancreas.

Mycoplasma stimulates HIV-1 expression from acutely- and dormantly-infected promonocyte/monoblastoid cell lines.

Treatment of a myelo-monocyte cell line, J22HL-60, dormantly infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) with heat-inactivated extracts of Acholeplasma (A) laidlawii (250 micrograms/ml) enhanced virus production more than 45-fold as assessed by p24 viral core antigen assay. When treated with a suboptimal dose of TPA or TNF-alpha, Acholeplasma extracts further augmented virus production in J22HL-60 cells. H7, an inhibitor of protein kinase C(PKC), almost completely abrogated HIV-1-inducing ability of Acholeplasma extracts in the cells.

Cloning and expression of a PKC-regulated chloride channel.

The cDNA of a protein kinase C-regulated chloride channel (CIC-3) was cloned. CIC-3 encodes 760 amino acids, which has significant amino acid identity with the previously cloned CIC chloride channels. CIC-3 cRNA elicited the chloride currents in Xenopus oocytes, which was completely blocked by activation of protein kinase C by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA).

Clinical and immunological analysis of annular erythema associated with Sjögren syndrome.

Clinical and immunopathological analysis was performed on 24 cases of Sjögren syndrome with annular erythema (AESjS). AESjS predominantly appears on the cheek of the face where skin temperature is relatively low in comparison with other sites. VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were strongly expressed on endothelial cells of AESjS, while epidermal expression of ICAM-1 was focal and weak.

Cryptic arteriovenous malformation of the choroid plexus of the fourth ventricle--case report.

A 54-year-old female presented with a cryptic arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the choroid plexus of the fourth ventricle causing intraventricular hemorrhage. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging disclosed the lesion near the fourth ventricle, but bilateral vertebral angiograms showed no abnormalities. The preoperative diagnosis was cavernous angioma.