Expression of a lymphocyte adhesion molecule (CD44) in malignant lymphomas: relevance to primary site, histological subtype and clinical stage.

Lymphocyte adhesion molecules defined by anti-CD44 antibody (Hermes-3) may be involved in lymphocyte binding to high endothelial venules at sites where lymphocytes exist the blood. CD44 expression was immunohistochemically examined in 167 well characterized cases of malignant lymphomas (MLs). None of 12 nodal follicular lymphomas (FLs) were CD44+, whereas 3 of 4 extranodal ones showed distinct CD44 expression. In contrast to nodal FLs, 28 of the 38 (74%) nodal diffuse B-cell lymphomas were CD44+ (p < 0.0001). T-cell lymphomas showed a significantly higher expression of CD44 antigen than diffuse B-cell lymphomas in the nodal cases (p < 0.04), but not in the extranodal ones. In nodal diffuse lymphomas, 3 of 5 stage I lymphomas (60%) were CD44+ in contrast to 53 of 63 stage II-IV lymphomas (84%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Of 14 Hodgkin's diseases, 9 cases were CD44+ with no significant correlation with clinical stage. The data of flow cytometric analysis confirmed the results of immunohistochemical analysis. In conclusion, CD44 expression is relevant to primary sites of distinctive MLs originating in the mucosal regions (MALToma) and some histological subtypes, but the relation with clinical stage was not defined. Some other adhesion molecules or different mechanisms must also be taken into account concerning the genesis and the expansion of MLs.</p

Pathological study of pulmonary toxicity induced by intratracheally instilled Asian sand dust (Kosa): effects of lowered serum zinc level on the toxicity

Introduction. We have previously reported that Asian sand dust (ASD) induced acute and chronic inflammatory changes in the lung of mice. Zinc (Zn) is reported to influence inflammation and wound healing. The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of lowered serum Zn levels on the lung toxicity induced by ASD. Material and methods. Mice that were fed diets containing normal (group 1) or low (group 2) content of Zn for 8 weeks were intratracheally instilled with 3.0 mg of ASD, followed by sacrifice at 24 hours, 2 weeks, and 1, 2 and 3 months after instillation. Paraffin sections of lung tissues were stained by hematoxylin and eosin and by immunohistochemistry to detect tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-1β as well as inflammasome (NALP3), autophagy (LC-3) and lysosome (LAMP-1) markers. Selected samples of lung tissue were examined by electron microscopy. Results. Following histological examination of the lung, similar patterns of inflammatory changes were observed in mice with normal and low serum Zn concentrations; however, they were more prominent and persistent in mice with low serum Zn level. These changes were both purulent (acute) and pyogranulomatous (chronic) in nature. In the lung lesions of group 2 mice the changes within the cytoplasmic vacuoles of enlarged ASD-containing macrophages (Mo) were clearly visible. The macrophages expressed TNF and IL-1β, and semi-quantitative analysis revealed a larger number of TNF-positive Mo in mice with normal level of serum Zn and a larger number of IL-1β-positive Mo in mice with low level of serum Zn. Decreased positive LC-3 staining and dilated lysosomes containing ASD particles were observed in the cytoplasm of Mo in mice with low serum Zn concentration. Conclusions. These findings suggest that low serum zinc concentration may induce the modulation of cytokine expression and lysosomal malfunction by phagocytotic and/or autophagic mechanisms, and may result in interstitial pyogranulomatous inflammation in the lungs of mice treated with ASD

[11C]Doxepin binding to histamine H1 receptors in living human brain: reproducibility during attentive waking and circadian rhythm

Molecular imaging in neuroscience is a new research field that enables visualization of the impact of molecular events on brain structure and function in humans. While magnetic resonance-based imaging techniques can provide complex information at the level of system, positron emission tomography (PET) enables determination of the distribution and density of receptor and enzyme in the human brain. Previous studies using [11C]raclopride and [11C]FLB457 revealed that the release of neuronal dopamine was increased in human brain by psychostimulants or reward stimuli. Following on from these previous [11C]raclopride studies, we examined whether the levels of neuronal release of histamine might change [11C]doxepin binding to the H1 receptors under the influence of physiological stimuli. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the test–retest reliability of quantitative measurement of [11C]doxepin binding between morning and afternoon and between resting and attentive waking conditions in healthy human subjects. There was a trend for a decrease in [11C]doxepin binding during attentive calculation tasks compared with that in resting conditions, but the difference (less than 10%) was not significant. Similarly, the binding potential of [11C]doxepin in the cerebral cortex was slightly higher in the morning than that in the afternoon, but it was also insignificant. These data suggest that higher histamine release during wakefulness could not decrease the [11C]doxepin binding in the brain. This study confirmed the reproducibility and reliability of [11C]doxepin in the previous imaging studies to measure the H1 receptor

Rapid-growing solitary necrotic nodule of the liver

The solitary necrotic nodule of the liver is an uncommon nonmalignant lesion with an uncertain etiology. The lesion was defined as a nodule with a completely necrotic core and fibrous capsule etc. and without a consistency of viable cells. The characteristic features of this benign lesion on the imaging modalities are similar to the metastatic tumor. In this paper we discuss the case of a rapid-growing solitary necrotic nodule of the liver occurring in a patient with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis. The lesion located on the left median lobe of the liver had rapidly enlarged in diameter in the last seven months. Despite some examinations by imaging modalities to confirm the preoperative diagnosis, we were unable to visually confirm. Several histological examinations using a needle biopsy specimen were performed, but the diagnosis was all necrotic tissue. However, we recommended an extended left hepatic lobectomy for this rapid-growing lesion since cholangiocarcinoma with necrosis could be hardly differentiated. Permanent histology revealed that the lesion was solitary necrotic nodule. We consider that permanent histology of the entire lesion is possibly the only accurate method of diagnosis. Since the solitary necrotic nodule does not indicate malignancy, hepatic resection should be performed

ジョウチョウカンマク ジョウミャク ケッセンショウ ノ イチレイ

We report a case of superior mesenteric vein thrombosis successfully saved by resection of enteral necrosis. A ６７ years-old man who admitted for abdominal pain was diagnosed with acute enterocolitis and treated. After two days, abdominal pain increased and abdominal CT revealed superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. He was referred to the department of surgery. We conducted emergency operation. During surgery, bloody ascites and the enteral necrosis about５０cm in length was confirmed. The necrotic ileum was resected and an end-to-end anastomosis was performed. Immediately after surgery, we started anticoagulation therapy. The patient recoverd well and was discharged on POD３２． In a slow pattern like this case, we should suspect superior mesenteric vein thrombosis and diagnose by abdominal CT

ダイチョウ ガン ニ タイスル 5 FU アイソボリン リョウホウ デ コウカ ガ ミトメラレタ 2レイ

We report 2 cases of rectal cancer responding to postoperative chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and isovorin. Case 1 : A 60 years-old woman underwent low-anterior resection for rectal cancer in 1994 and partial right lung resection for metastatic lung cancer in 1998. She underwent chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and isovorin for mediastinal lymph node metastasis and high score of serum CEA in 2000. After the chemotherapy, the lymph node shrank and serum CEA normalized. Case 2 : A 75 years-old woman underwent low-anterior resection and hysterectomy for rectal cancer with multiple lung metastasis in 2000. She underwent postoperative chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and isovorin for metastatic lung cancer. The lung tumor shrank and serum CEA decreased. Chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and isovorin seemed to be effective for advanced colon cancer. We should reconfirm the effectiveness and improve the directions for use

Hydrolyzed eggshell membrane immobilized on phosphorylcholine polymer supplies extracellular matrix environment for human dermal fibroblasts

We have found that a water-soluble alkaline-digested form of eggshell membrane (ASESM) can provide an extracellular matrix (ECM) environment for human dermal fibroblast cells (HDF) in vitro. Avian eggshell membrane (ESM) has a fibrous-meshwork structure and has long been utilized as a Chinese medicine for recovery from burn injuries and wounds in Asian countries. Therefore, ESM is expected to provide an excellent natural material for biomedical use. However, such applications have been hampered by the insolubility of ESM proteins. We have used a recently developed artificial cell membrane biointerface, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine polymer (PMBN) to immobilize ASESM proteins. The surface shows a fibrous structure under the atomic force microscope, and adhesion of HDF to ASESM is ASESM-dose-dependent. Quantitative mRNA analysis has revealed that the expression of type III collagen, matrix metalloproteinase-2, and decorin mRNAs is more than two-fold higher when HDF come into contact with a lower dose ASESM proteins immobilized on PMBN surface. A particle-exclusion assay with fixed erythrocytes has visualized secreted water-binding molecules around the cells. Thus, HDF seems to possess an ECM environment on the newly designed PMBN-ASESM surface, and future applications of the ASESM-PMBN system for biomedical use should be of great interest

IT Utilization Impact on Health Care Quality and Productivity : Empirical Analysis on National Hospital Organizations

As Japan enters the era of super-aging society, we are in urgent need of fundamental structural change of the healthcare delivery system with lowering the medical cost and improving health quality. In this research, we investigate the impact of IT utilization on the quality and productivity of the National Hospital Organization. Our result shows that IT utilization improved the quality of medical care, which is an index of efficient healthcare delivery. However, there was no decrease of labor’s productivity or no increase of labor’s share. With respect to hospital function, labor’s share increased at small and medium scale hospitals. Value-added to sales ratio decreased at large scale hospital, and it was inversely correlated with TFP. In addition, patient satisfaction was significantly improved in hospitalized and outpatient clinics at large hospitals.査読研究論文Refereed Paper