Clonal emergence in uremic parathyroid hyperplasia is not related to MEN1 gene abnormality.

It is difficult to differentiate between parathyroid neoplasia and hyperplasia. In an attempt to elucidate the clonality of uremic parathyroid hyperplasia and the molecular genetic abnormalities accounting for clonal emergence, we analyzed 20 cases of uremic parathyroid hyperplasia. Clonalities were determined using the X-chromosome-linked human androgen receptor (HUMARA) gene and the phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) gene, and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) gene abnormality was analyzed by studying loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in 11q13 and somatic mutations in the MEN1 gene.

Ligamentum flavum hematoma in the lumbar spine.

A patient who presented with symptoms suggestive of nerve root compression secondary to an extradural mass was found to have a hematoma in the ligamentum flavum. Pathological examination of surgical specimens revealed an old hemorrhage, and hemosiderin deposits around organized granulation tissue within the ligamentum flavum. Vessels within the ligamentum flavum had, presumably, ruptured during minor trauma when the patient stood up.

The vascular endothelial growth factor/fms-like tyrosine kinase system in human ovary during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy.

In human ovaries, angiogenesis is known to be associated with the development of follicles and the formation of the corpus luteum (CL). A complex vascular network is formed within the thecal cell layer during follicular growth, and rapid neovascularization occurs toward the granulosa cell layer after ovulation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine, stimulating endothelial cell growth and enhancing microvascular permeability.

Postmortem findings two weeks after oral treatment for metastatic Candida endophthalmitis with fluconazole.

The purpose of this histological study was to present postmortem findings in both eyes of a 53-year-old male with liver dysfunction 2 weeks after short-time oral treatment with 200 mg/day fluconazole for metastatic Candida endophthalmitis due to intravenous hyperalimentation for 18 days. Candida had been demonstrated in the venous blood and on the tip of the intravenous catheter. The bilateral fungal endophthalmitis with hypopyon responded well to fungistatic therapy, but the patient suddenly died from heart failure.

Emotional stress induces immediate-early gene expression in rat heart via activation of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors.

We have studied the adrenergic mechanisms of immediate-early gene (IEG) induction in the discrete types of cardiac cells with the use of in situ hybridization histochemistry in an immobilization-stress model in conscious rats. Expression of c-fos, fos B, c-jun, jun B, NGFI-A, and NGFI-B mRNA was rapidly upregulated in the endothelial, myocardial, and smooth muscle cells of coronary vessels by 15-45 min after the onset of immobilization. Simultaneous blockade of both alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors completely abolished expression of IEGs in these cardiac cells.

Experimental spinal fusion using sintered bovine bone coated with type I collagen and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2.

Study Design: Posterolateral lumbar transverse process fusion using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP)-2 carried by sintered bovine bone and Type I collagen complex was compared with fusion achieved using autogeneous bone graft or sintered bovine bone alone.

Objectives: This study examined the efficacy of sintered bovine bone coated with Type I collagen as a carrier of rhBMP-2 for lumbar intertransverse process arthrodesis.

Summary Of Background Data: Posterolateral intertransverse process arthrodesis using osteoinductive growth factors is performed experimentally in the lumbar spine.

Arterial relaxation mediated by endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor in hypertension induced by chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate arterial relaxation mediated by endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) during chronic inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthase. We measured the isometric tension of isolated mesenteric arteries of Wistar rats administered Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 mg/Kg/day) for 3 weeks. Relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) was reduced in L-NAME treated rats (maximum relaxation, 52% versus 79% ).

Massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage in a case of amyloidosis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis.

A case of a 60-year-old woman with secondary gastrointestinal amyloidosis to rheumatoid arthritis is reported. Biopsy findings in the mucosa of the stomach and lower gastrointestinal tract revealed amyloidosis. Endoscopic examination of the lower gastrointestinal tract revealed multiple nodular elevations.

[Effective alendronate therapy against a bone metastasis occurring during docetaxel therapy for breast cancer--a case report].

A 65-year-old woman underwent radical operation for breast cancer in December, 1992. Between September, 1994 and January, 1997, she developed local recurrences four times as well as a supraclavicular lymph node recurrence. Each recurrence was treated with surgery and various types of chemoendocrine therapy, including anthracycline-containing chemotherapy.

[Serum antibodies to rubella virus in healthy individuals with indirect immunofluorescent method].

To investigate sensitivity to rubella virus (RV) in healthy individuals, we examined levels of antibodies to RV in sera by an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and compared levels of antibodies by IFA with those by a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. Of 114 healthy individuals, we detected antibodies to RV in serum specimens from 103 (90.3%) by IFA and in those from 109 (95.

[Present telemedicine and its problems in Wakayama Prefecture--from experiences of diagnosing by televised pathology].

The purpose of the telemedicine would be providing advanced medical information for diagnosis and therapy to everyone living in rural districts with proper medical expenses. Telepathology is one of the best solutions for the problem of absolute shortage of number in certified pathological doctors in Wakayama. We employed the computerized microscope (OLMICOSW, Olympus) equipped with remote control system via ISDN, which had a great advantage that pathologists could manipulate the remote microscope and select the appropriate diagnostic field of tissue samples.

Dynamic outflow obstruction due to the transient extensive left ventricular wall motion abnormalities caused by acute myocarditis in a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: reduction in ventricular afterload by disopyramide.

A 65-year-old woman was admitted to the coronary care unit because of acute pulmonary edema. Immediate 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiograms revealed extensive left ventricular wall motion abnormalities and left ventricular hypertrophy with extreme outflow obstruction. Although an ECG showed ST-segment elevation in the anterolateral leads, a coronary arteriogram revealed normal epicardial arteries.

Effects of sintered bovine bone on cell proliferation, collagen synthesis, and osteoblastic expression in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells.

To determine the function of biomaterials on osteoblasts, we studied the effects of two different biomaterials, sintered bovine bone (true bone ceramic) and hydroxyapatite-related material, on DNA and collagen synthesis and osteoblastic expression in osteoblast-like cells in vitro. Osteoblasts cultured with true bone ceramic exhibited greater increases in DNA and collagenous protein synthesis and alkaline phosphatase activity than those cultured with hydroxyapatite. Furthermore, expression of mRNA for type-I collagen and osteocalcin, as assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, was higher in cultures grown on true bone ceramic or hydroxyapatite than in those grown with glass fragments, and levels of gene expression in true bone ceramic and hydroxyapatite cultures were at almost the same level.

Effects of ethanol on the stress-induced expression of NGFI-A mRNA in the rat brain.

We investigated expression of NGFI-A/zif268 mRNA, reliable marker for neuronal activation in response to stress in the brain of rats pretreated with ethanol. The rats were orally administrated with either 25% sucrose or 20% ethanol (20 ml of kg body weight) 10 min before the onset of the stress. The rats were exposed to immobilization stress for 20 min and quickly decapitated.

Glucocorticoids induce glutamine synthetase in folliculostellate cells of rat pituitary glands in vivo and in vitro.

Glutamine synthetase (GS) is a glucocorticoid-inducible enzyme that has a key role for glutamate metabolism in the central and peripheral nervous system. In this study GS activity was measured and the amount of immunoreactive GS (ir-GS) cells in the rat anterior pituitary gland was quantified as a function of age. In addition, the effects of GS inhibitors, glucocorticoid administration, and adrenalectomy on GS activity were examined.

Biochemical markers of bone turnover and bone loss at the lumbar spine and femoral neck: the Taiji study.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether biochemical markers of bone turnover predict bone loss. The survey was carried out in Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. From a list of inhabitants aged 40-79 years, 400 participants (50 men and 50 women in each of four age groups) were selected randomly.

[Choroid plexus papilloma in the posterior third ventricle in infancy: a case report].

Choroid plexus papillomas represent approximately 0.5% of all intracranial tumors, but they are found in the third ventricle only infrequently. We report a case of choroid plexus papilloma in the third ventricle which is difficult to differentiate from a pineal region tumor.

Intraductal spread of invasive breast carcinoma has a positive correlation with c-erb B-2 overexpression and vascular invasion.

Background: Studies of the histologic characteristics and biologic behavior of the intraductal spread of breast carcinoma are critically important in that they may lead to the identification of a unique spread pattern rather than a noninvasive lesion.

Methods: Paraffin embedded specimens of 187 primary invasive breast carcinomas and 4 noninvasive ductal carcinomas, obtained by wide excision, quadrantectomy, total glandectomy, or mastectomy, were studied immunohistochemically. The overexpression of c-erb B-2, p53, bcl-2, and MIB-1, as well as the histologic characteristics of intraductal spread (such as histologic features and histologic grade), were assessed.

Phosphotyrosine of macrophage by low-density lipoproteins from hemodialysis patients.

Background: Because of the possible importance of tyrosine phosphorylation in the signal transduction process, we investigated whether an interaction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) from hemodialysis patients (HD-LDL) and human macrophages induces tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in the macrophages.

Methods: Human monocyte-derived macrophages were incubated with HD-LDL (100 micrograms/ml) or native LDL (100 micrograms/ml) for 15 minutes at 37 degrees C. Whole cells were lyzed with Tris-HCl buffer containing vanadate and Triton X-100.