A case of recurrent biliary cystadenocarcinoma successfully treated with 5FU/CDDP systemic chemotherapy]

We report a case of biliary cystadenocarcinoma which recurred 41 months postoperatively. A 60-year-old woman was admitted for further examination of multiple metastatic tumors and a large amount of ascites. Systemic administration of 5FU and CDDP caused her CEA level to decrease gradually and abdominal computed tomography revealed considerable reduction of the metastatic tumors and ascites. Since her general condition had improved, chemotherapy was continued in the outpatient clinic.     

Immunohistochemical characterization of extracellular matrix in the developing human cornea

Collagen, fibronectin and laminin are important components of the extracellular matrix of the human cornea. We used the immunofluorescence technique with polyclonal antibodies directed against these proteins and to bullous pemphigoid antigen (BPA), in order to study their distribution in human corneas from 8 weeks of gestation to term and in adult corneas. Immunoreactivity was observed with antibodies to type I collagen in the limbus and the corneal stroma at 8 weeks of gestation. At 11 weeks of gestation it was found in epithelial basement membrane (EBM) and Descemet's membrane (DM) and continued thus throughout fetal and adult life. Type II collagen was not detected in fetal or adult cornea. Type III collagen was detected during 8-20th weeks of gestation in the EBM, DM and stroma. After 27th weeks of gestation, type III collagen could no longer be detected in the central cornea. Type IV collagen was detected in the EBM as early as 8 weeks of gestation and remained positive throughout fetal and adult life. Descemet's membrane was negative for type IV collagen at 8 weeks of gestation and became positive thereafter. Immunostaining for fibronectin in DM was negative at 8 weeks of gestation, followed by patchy staining of corneal stroma and EBM up to the age of 37 weeks of gestation. Staining in the EBM was negative or variable up to 70 years of age, and then became positive again in a 77 year old individual. Staining for LN was positive in the EBM after 8 weeks of gestation. Staining was negative in DM at that age, but became positive after 9 weeks of gestation. Staining for BPA was negative at 8-9 weeks of gestation, then gradually became positive.     

Rotational acetabular osteotomy for acetabular dysplasia of the hip with a giant acetabular bone cyst: a case report

In acetabular dysplasia of the hip joint accompanied by a giant acetabular bone cyst, rotational acetabular osteotomy may cause serious complications, such as bone necrosis after surgery or fracture of the fragile acetabulum during the operation. In a patient with this condition, we performed a two-stage operation: first, autogenous bone grafting supplemented with hydroxyapatite filling, then rotational acetabular osteotomy (after new bone formation had been assured). Radiographs and CT scans showed favorable fusion of the grafted bone. Some 18 months after the second operation, arthrograms showed no inflow of contrast medium from the articular cavity into the bone cyst region, although this had been observed before treatment. Thus, an effective remodeling of bony congruency was indicated in the mobile acetabulum 5 years after the second operation. This two-stage operation appears to be useful for correcting acetabular dysplasia accompanied by a giant bone cyst and to carry a reduced risk of serious complications, such as deterioration of the articular surface of the acetabulum or necrosis of the translocated acetabulum.     

Rheumatoid arthritis synovial macrophage-osteoclast differentiation is osteoprotegerin ligand-dependent

Osteoprotegerin ligand (OPGL) is a newly discovered molecule which is essential for osteoclast differentiation. Both OPGL and its soluble decoy receptor, osteoprotegerin (OPG), which inhibits osteoclast formation, are known to be produced by osteoblasts and inflammatory cells found in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium. In this study, RA synovial macrophages were incubated in the presence or absence of OPGL, macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), and dexamethasone for various time points. The results indicated that osteoclast formation from RA synovial macrophages is OPGL-dependent and that OPGL and M-CSF are the only humoral factors required for RA synovial macrophage-osteoclast differentiation. OPG was found to inhibit osteoclast formation by RA synovial macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. This study has shown that macrophages isolated from the synovium of RA patients are capable of differentiating into osteoclastic bone-resorbing cells; this process is OPGL- and M-CSF-dependent and is modulated by corticosteroids. Cellular (T and B cells, dendritic cells) and humoral factors in RA synovium and bone may influence osteoclast formation and bone resorption by controlling OPGL/OPG production.     

Purification and characterization of Staphylococcus aureus FRI 1169 and 587 toxic shock syndrome exotoxins.

An exotoxin was purified from a toxic shock toxin (TST)-producing Staphylococcus aureus strain, FRI 1169, and another exotoxin was purified from a pyrogenic exotoxin C (PEC)-producing S. aureus strain, 587. Both strains had been isolated from toxic-shock syndrome patients. The two exotoxins were purified by the same method of ion-exchange chromatography, chromatofocusing, and gel filtration. After purification, those exotoxins gave a line of identity against an anti-TST serum and also were immunologically similar to TST in a double-diffusion test. In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, each exotoxin gave a single band with a relative mobility identical to that of the other. Their molecular weights (24,000), isoelectric points (7.0), amino acid compositions, and NH2-terminal amino acid sequences (the first four residues) were identical. Both produced fever and enhanced host susceptibility to lethal endotoxin shock in rabbits, comparable with PEC. These findings show that the two exotoxins are the same protein, which is assumed to be TST. When injected into rabbits, the culture supernatant of strain 587 showed biological activity like that described above, whereas the culture supernatant neutralized with anti-TST immunoglobulin did not. This showed that PEC-producing strain 587 does not produce any toxin with these biological activities in rabbits except TST.     

Dose- and time-dependent responses for micronucleus induction by X-rays and fast neutrons in gill cells of medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) were exposed to various doses of X-rays or fast neutrons, and the frequency of micronucleated cells (MNCs) was measured in gills sampled at 12- or 24-hr intervals from 12 to 96 hr after exposure. The resulting time course of MNC frequency was biphasic, with a clear peak 24 hr after exposure, irrespective of the kind of radiation applied and the dose used. The half-life of MNCs induced in the gill tissues by the two exposures fluctuated around 28 hr, with no significant dose-dependent trend for either X-ray- or neutron-exposed fish. As assayed 24 hr after exposure, the MNC frequency increased linearly over the control level with increasing doses of both X-rays and fast neutrons. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of fast neutrons to X-rays for MNC induction was estimated to be 4.3 +/- 0.6. This value is close to the RBE value of 5.1 +/- 0.3 reported for fast neutron induction of somatic crossing-over mutations in Drosophila melanogaster that arise from recombination repair of DNA double-strand breaks. These results and other data support our conclusion that the medaka gill cell micronucleus assay is a reliable short-term test for detecting potential inducers of DNA double-strand breaks.     

Eicosapentaenoic acid inhibits antigen-presenting cell function of murine splenocytes.

Recently, many investigators have studied the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-rich fish oil on immune function and immune disease. However, effects of dietary supplementation of fish oil or EPA on the immune system are still unclear. In the present study, the effects of EPA on antigen presentation were investigated. We have used antigen-specific helper T-cell clones that proliferate in the presence of antigen [keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH)] and spleen cells as antigen-presenting cells (APC). Mice were divided into two groups and fed an experimental diet or a control diet for 4 weeks ad libitum. In mice fed the experimental diet, the arachidonic acid (AA) content of spleen cells was decreased and that of EPA and docosapentaenoic acid was increased markedly compared to those of the control diet. Dietary enrichment with EPA inhibited the ability of accessory cells to present antigen to murine helper T-cell clones. This effect was observed for two distinct helper T-cell clones, Th1 and Th2. We also examined the effects of EPA-TG emulsion on APC function. The direct addition of EPA-TG emulsion to a T-cell proliferation assay system suppressed APC function. The inhibition was proportional to the concentration of EPA-TG emulsion. Pretreatment of splenocytes with EPA-TG emulsion resulted in inhibition of APC function. Inhibition of antigen presentation by dietary supplementation with EPA might depress immune reactivity.