Tumor Necrosis Factor Gene Polymorphism in Chronic Sinusitis

Objectives It is likely that genetic factors play a role in the etiology of chronic sinusitis, and airway inflammation is an important pathological feature in chronic sinusitis. We hypothesized that individuals with greater inflammatory responses may be more likely to acquire the disease. Polymorphisms of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) genes have been described, and certain inflammatory diseases are reportedly associated with certain alleles of TNF genes. The purpose of this study is to examine whether there is an association between some alleles of TNF genes and chronic sinusitis. Study Design Thirty‐eight Japanese patients with intractable chronic sinusitis were selected on the basis of the following criteria: 1) persistent mucous or mucopurulent nasal discharge and/or postnasal dripping for longer than 3 years and 2) opacification in bilateral maxillary sinuses and ethmoid cells on plain radiographic films. Methods Both tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and tumor necrosis factor‐β (TNF‐β) gene polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with restriction fragment length polymorphisms in these patients and 35 healthy control subjects. Results A significantly higher frequency (P < .05) of TNFB*2 allele of TNF‐β gene polymorphism was observed in patients with chronic sinusitis (74%) compared with control subjects (56%). There was no association between alleles of TNF‐α and chronic sinusitis. Conclusion We concluded that TNF‐β gene polymorphism may form a component of the genetic predisposition to chronic sinusitis in Japanese patients.     

中药肛滴在治疗消化道恶性肿瘤中的应用

探讨中药肛滴在治疗消化道恶性肿瘤中的应用。通过对６例典型病例的回顾分析,观察中药肛滴在缓解癌性粘连性肠梗阻、缓解消化道恶性肿瘤患者症状、提高晚期消化道恶性肿瘤患者生存质量的作用。应用中医理论“通则不痛”之说,对消化道恶性肿瘤患者进行中药肛滴治疗．认为有较好的临床效果。     

Pharmacodynamics of Phenobarbital Anesthesia and Pentylenetetrazol-Induced Maximal Seizures in a Rat Model of Neoplastic Spinal Cord Compression

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether paraplegia induced by neoplastic cord compression affects the pharmacodynamics of phenobarbital general anesthesia or of pentylenetet-razol (PTZ)-induced convulsions. Paraplegic rats harboring a thora-columbar epidural tumor, or an identical hindlimb tumor mass, received an i.v. infusion of phenobarbital until the onset of anesthesia. At that point, the phenobarbital concentrations in the CSF and serum were measured. Similarly, PTZ was infused until the onset of maximal seizures. It was found that changes related to systemic tumor growth and newly developed paraplegia due to neoplastic spinal cord compression did not attenuate the pharmacodynamics of phenobarbital. However, sustained paraplegia of 4 days duration reduced CNS sensitivity to the hypnotic action of the barbiturate as evidenced by the higher cerebrospinal fluid phenobarbital concentration required to induce anesthesia (170 ± 31 vs 125 ± 20 mg/L; P < 0.05). On the other hand, sustained paraplegia did not affect brain threshold concentration for PTZ-induced seizures.     

Recurrent breast cancer at 21 years after resection detected by serum tumor markers and manifested as dermatomyositis

A 52-year-old Japanese woman developed dermatomyositis. She had undergone a standard radical mastectomy for left breast cancer 21 years earlier. Though no physical sign of recurrent breast cancer appeared clinically, levels of tumor markers were abnormally elevated. Therefore, tamoxifen and CAF therapy were given. Further, the clinical course of dermatomyositis almost paralleled the level of serum tumor markers and the clinical course of her recurrent breast cancer. These markers were useful for detecting the recurrence, following the metastatic disease, and monitoring her response to therapy.     

Tumor necrosis factor-{alpha} up-regulates Bcl-2 expression and decreases calcium-dependent apoptosis in human B cell lines

Group I and Epstein–Barr virus-negative Burkitt's lymphomacell lines and the B104 lymphoma cell line which expresses aphenotype of immature B cells undergo apoptosis after cross-linkingof their surface Ig receptors or after exposure to a calciumionophore. We show here that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- protectsthese B cell lines against Ca²⁺-dependent apoptosis. Protectionwas associated with up-regulatlon of bcl-2 mRNA and proteinexpression. The increase of Bcl-2 expression induced by TNF-was inhibited by chelerythrine, a specific inhibitor of proteinkinase C (PKC), suggesting that Bcl-2 expression was dependenton PKC activation. Furthermore, we show that phorbol estersand cyclosporin A (CsA), which prevent Ca²⁺-dependent apoptosis,up-regulated Bcl-2 expression. The effect of CsA on Bcl-2 expressionis controlled by calcineurin since we have shown that FK506but not rapamycin had the same effect on Bcl-2 expression, whereasokadaic acid, an inhibitor of phosphatases 1, 2A and 2C, wasineffective. These data provide direct evidence that TNF- preventsCa²⁺-dependent apoptosis by a Bcl-2-dependent mechanism mediatedby PKC.     

Tissue connections in a transplantable virus-producing sebaceous adenoma of the mouse

Summary The distribution, size, and configuration of intercellular junctions in the sebaceous tumor of mice were examined using the freeze-fracture technique. Three types of junctions were observed: desmosomes, gap, and tight junctions. Tight junctions in general consisted of short linear unbranched fibrils, and macular or complex tight junctional patterns were present only occasionally. Gap junctions ranged from small sports of 0.9×10^-3 m² to areas of approximately 0.46 m². Desmosomes were the most frequent junctional specializations, and it is concluded that they are at least partially responsible for this tumor not being metastatic. Filipin in conjunction with freeze-fracture showed filipin-sterol complexes on the plasma membrane, the nuclear envelope, and the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. The intercellular junctions were devoid of these complexes indicating that these regions are low in cholesterol.     

Infantile small cell gliomas

Summary Fourteen juvenile patients with small cell gliomas were studied at two institutes. These tumors are believed to form a distinct entity. They arise mostly in the diencephalon or the brain stem and are composed of a poorly differentiated small cell component having a prononounced tendency to differentiate into a glioma. Signs of neuroblastic differentiation were also found with the electron microscope. Small cell gliomas disseminate early and profusely throughout the ventricular walls and the subarachnoid spaces including the spinal meninges. Prognosis is grave, most patients dying within 1 year of diagnosis or surgical intervention. The designation infantile small cell glioma overlaps with both the metastasising gliomas in young subjects of Eade and Urich (1971) and with the primitive neuroectodermal tumor of infancy of Hart and Earle (1973).     

Diagnosis of cerebral Whipple's disease by cerebrospinal fluid cytology

Summary In a case of Whipple's disease the diagnosis was made by careful cytologic evaluation of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), identifying Sieracki cells. A basal granuloma invaded the hypothalamus, diencephalon, and rostral parts of the brainstem. An exploration in the initial stage led to misdiagnosis as a granular cell tumor. Diagnosis was then confirmed by intestinal biopsy.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird über einen Fall mit Morbus Whipple berichtet, der bei sorgfältiger Untersuchung des Liquor cerebrospinalis durch den Nachweis von Sieracki-Zellen diagnostiziert wurde. Die Exploration eines basalen Granuloms, das in den Hypothalamus, das Diencephalon und die rostralen Anteile des Hirnstamms eingewachsen war, hatte im Frühstadium zur Fehlinterpretation eines Granularzelltumors geführt. Die Diagnose wurde schließlich durch Dünndarmbiopsie bestätigt.

     

Unusual presentation of a giant glomus tumor

Giant glomus tumors pose a challenge to the Otologist by virtue of their location and vascularity. A vast majority of them present with tinnitus, conductive hearing loss and cranial nerve palsies. We report the case of a 16-year-old male patient who presented with sudden right-sided sensorineural hearing loss. This is an unusual presentation of a giant glomus tumor. We present the clinical features and management of this unusual case.