The determination of glial fibrillary acidic protein for the diagnosis and histogenetic study of central nervous system tumors: a study of 152 cases.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was purified from human spinal cord and cerebral white matter. GFAP was localized by an immuno-peroxidase method in normal adult and fetal human brains, rat brains, and 152 central nervous system (CNS) tumors. GFAP was found in reactive and normal astrocytes, immature cells of fetal brain at the 18th to 21st gestational weeks, and normal rat astrocytes. This GFAP staining was quite specific for glial tumors, including astrocytomas, glioblastomas, astroblastomas, and ependymomas. GFAP-positive cells were also found in oligodendrogliomas and choroid plexus papillomas, and they were interpreted as being astroglial or ependymal differentiations. Stromal cells in cerebellar hemangioblastomas were negative. However, engulfed astrocytes were found at the periphery of such tumors and often adjacent to the proliferate blood vessels. In meningiomas, neurinomas, metastatic carcinomas, pituitary adenomas and other non-glial tumors, GFAP-positive cells were not identified.</p

Subtemporal approach to basilar tip aneurysm with division of posterior communicating artery: Technical note

The subtemporal approach with division of the posterior communicating artery (PcomA) is described for treating aneurysms of the basilar tip. When the ipsilateral posterior cerebral artery (PCA) interferes with visibility and manipulation around the aneurysm neck and the artery is tethered by the PcomA and not mobilized, the PcomA can be divided near the junction with the PCA. The procedure permits PCA mobilization and exposes the neck of the aneurysm. We applied this procedure to a patient with a ruptured aneurysm of the basilar tip. The postoperative course was uneventful except for transient left oculomotor nerve palsy. Postoperative cerebral angiography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the respective disappearance of the aneurysm and no new ischemic lesions. The subtemporal approach allows safer and easier division of the PcomA near the junction to the PCA compared with the pterional approach, and the present procedure is more suitable for the subtemporal approach

Electron microscopic features of a brain tumor induced in hamster by BK virus, a human papova virus.

In order to locate the target cells for malignant transformation by BK virus (a human papova virus) in hamster brain, electron microscopic observation of tumor originally induced in hamster brain by BK virus was performed. With light microscopy, the BK virus-induced tumor (Vn 17) bore a close resemblance to human malignant ependymoma. Under the electron microscope, numerous microvilli and few cilia were visible on the surface of the tumor cells. These tumor cells were joined to each other by desmosomes. Gap junctions were not observed. Multilayered cuboidal cells were observed around the lumen and blood vessels in the tumor. With regard to fine structure, three types of Vn 17 cells were recognized; ependymal like cells, tanycytes with prominent cell processes, and undifferentiated cells with few cytoplasmic organelles. There was no basal lamina between the ependymal cells and the connective tissue stroma. The Vn 17 cells showed some similarity to the ultrastructural features of the epemdymal cells of newborn rabbits, suggesting that the target cells for Vn 17 may be cells related to ependyma. Malignant transformation of the cells would be initiated in the early stages after BK virus inoculation into the brain of newborn hamsters.</p

Alteration of water-soluble S-100 protein content in microembolized rat brain.

The amount of S-100 protein in rat brain embolized with carbon microspheres decreased in parallel with the development of cerebral edema as judged by water content, recovering to the normal range by 24h after embolization. These results suggest the participation of S-100 protein in the permeability characterisitics of nervous system capillaries known as the blood-brain barrier.</p

Chromosome analysis of a brain malignant lymphoma cell line.

Chromosome studies of a malignant lymphoma cell line derived from the brain were made by Q- and G-banding techniques. The modal number of chromosomes was 45. Complex structural rearrangements were present, but the 14q+ marker chromosome frequently seen in malignant lymphomas was not identified in the cell line. The main karyotype in cells analyzed was 45, X, -Y, del (2) (q21q23), t (3;?) (p25;?), t (p12;?), -8, 11q+, 18q+, +mar. Absence of the 14q+ may be explained by: firstly, clones which possessed 14q+ marker chromosome in brain tumor cells may have been selected out with increasing culture time and repeated passages; or secondly, the presence of the 14q+ marker chromosome depends on the type of lymphoma

Basic Reseach on the Simulation of "Sensibility Information Processing"

We have studied the information processing of human sensibility from various approaches. In an approach from information retrieval theory, we constructed a "sensibility information retrieval system" which extracts words expressing human feelings from a novel and analyzes the chronological structure of the novel. Novels are thus classified into those with increasing-sadness, those with happy-endings, etc. In an approach from psychology, we constructed a model which simulates the process of evoking emotion. Words expressing feelings are classified, and the influence of past experiences and the effects on future actions are investigated by experiments. In an approach from business management, we point out that the study of sensibility information has a good applicability in the decision making system of an organization because the feelings of its members are crucial in making decisions. In particular, we emphasize that a "good morale" among organizational members is essential in avoiding serious accidents. From a device approach, we study the signal processing of electrical data trains using a modulated laser diode, and propose a potential application to the microwave phase shifter with small variations in amplitude

Genetics of immunoglobulin-A vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein purpura): An updated review

Immunoglobulin-A vasculitis (IgAV) is classically a childhood small-sized blood vessel vasculitis with predominant involvement of the skin. Gastrointestinal and joint manifestations are common in patients diagnosed with this condition. Nephritis, which is more severe in adults, constitutes the most feared complication of this vasculitis. The molecular bases underlying the origin of IgAV have not been completely elucidated. Nevertheless, several pieces of evidence support the claim that genes play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of this disease. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region is, until now, the main genetic factor associated with IgAV pathogenesis. Besides a strong association with HLA class II alleles, specifically HLA-DRB1 alleles, HLA class I alleles also seem to influence on the predisposition of this disease. Other gene polymorphisms located outside the HLA region, including those coding cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules as well as those related to T-cells, aberrant glycosylation of IgA1, nitric oxide production, neoangiogenesis, renin-angiotensin system and lipid, Pyrin and homocysteine metabolism, may be implicated not only in the predisposition to IgAV but also in its severity. An update of the current knowledge of the genetic component associated with the pathogenesis of IgAV is detailed in this review.Acknowledgements: RL-Mis supported by the Miguel Servet I programme of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the grant CP16/ 00033. FG is recipient of a Sara Borrell postdoctoral fellowship from the “Instituto Carlos III de Salud” at the Spanish Ministry of Health (Spain) (CD15/00095). SR-M is supported by funds from the RETICS Program (RIER) (RD16/0012/0009). FDC is supported by the Ramón y Cajal programme of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the grant RYC-2014-16458

Heat Shock Factor 1 Contributes to Ischemia-Induced Angiogenesis by Regulating the Mobilization and Recruitment of Bone Marrow Stem/Progenitor Cells

Bone marrow (BM)-derived stem/progenitor cells play an important role in ischemia-induced angiogenesis in cardiovascular diseases. Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is known to be induced in response to hypoxia and ischemia. We examined whether HSF1 contributes to ischemia-induced angiogenesis through the mobilization and recruitment of BM-derived stem/progenitor cells using HSF1-knockout (KO) mice. After the induction of ischemia, blood flow and microvessel density in the ischemic hindlimb were significantly lower in the HSF1-KO mice than in the wild-type (WT) mice. The mobilization of BM-derived Sca-1- and c-kit-positive cells in peripheral blood after ischemia was significantly lower in the HSF1-KO mice than in the WT mice. BM stem/progenitor cells from HSF1-KO mice showed a significant decrease in their recruitment to ischemic tissue and in migration, adhesion, and survival when compared with WT mice. Blood flow recovery in the ischemic hindlimb significantly decreased in WT mice receiving BM reconstitution with donor cells from HSF1-KO mice. Conversely, blood flow recovery in the ischemic hindlimb significantly increased in HSF1-KO mice receiving BM reconstitution with donor cells from WT mice. These findings suggest that HSF1 contributes to ischemia-induced angiogenesis by regulating the mobilization and recruitment of BM-derived stem/progenitor cells