Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to K Kikuchi.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas can simulate uveitis. Two patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma had anterior uveitis. Material was obtained from the enucleated eye in case 1, and from an inguinal lymph node in case 2. Immunologic evaluation of this material led to the diagnosis of peripheral T-cell lymphoma in both cases. Immunologic evaluation is useful in the examination of patients with lymphoma.
Quantitative determination of S-100 protein content on human melanoma tissues and in sera of melanoma patients was made possible through radioimmunoassay (RIA). Melanoma tissue extracts prepared from metastatic sites in both skin and lymph nodes contained 0.08-2.80% of S-100 out of the total extractable proteins, and it was also noticed that the tumors obtained from lymph-node metastasis possessed slightly higher levels of S-100 as compared with those obtained from the skin lesions. Serum S-100 levels of 12 melanoma patients with Stage 1 to 3 diseases were also examined by means of RIA, but only two patients showed a slight elevation of serum S-100 levels. When tissue sections prepared from a variety of cutaneous tumors, including pigmented nevus, melanoma and Schwannoma, were stained for S-100 by an immunoperoxidase technique, these tumors of neuroectodermal origin were demonstrated to contain a detectable amount of S-100, whereas other tested nonmelanocytic and non-neurogenic tumors were entirely negative for S-100. These data stress the usefulness of S-100 for the diagnosis of neurogenic and melanocytic tumors, especially melanomas, despite the difficulty of its detection in the sera of the tumor bearers, which might reflect the low tendency of S-100 to be shed from the tumor cells.
Two cases of a saccular aneurysm of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery associated with an anatomically related arteriovenous malformation are presented. The aneurysms were clipped and the arteriovenous malformations were totally extirpated in one-stage operations in both cases. The association of arteriovenous malformation and arterial aneurysm in the posterior fossa was reviewed in the literature.
1,2-Dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride (DMH) is one of the most reliable carcinogens for experimental colonic carcinogenesis. In order to evaluate the biological significances of target organ specificity of DMH-induced carcinogenesis, specific pathogen free (SPF) BALB/c mice were injected subcutaneously with DMH for 30 weeks, and were studied pathologically for tumor development of various organs. The data showed that colon tumor developed only at 2% of these mice. However, it produced 100% incidence of malignant endotheliomas and angiosarcomas of blood vessels and these tumors selectively appeared in the liver. There were no overt foci of primary vascular tumors in the heart, lung, kidney, muscle as well as spleen. This tumor model may reveal that the organ specificity of the carcinogenic activity with DMH could be converted, possibly depending upon the bacterial flora in the intestines, and very suitable for the investigation of implications of intestinal bacteria on the colonic and vascular tumorigenesis.
A series of T-cell-specific monoclonal antibodies (Leu-1, Leu-2a, and Leu-3a) and B-cell-specific monoclonal antibody (HLB-1) were used to detect the localization and intensity of infiltration of lymphocyte subpopulations and T-cell subsets in frozen sections of 17 patients with the oral cancer. The vast majority of the lymphocyte infiltrates in the oral cancer tissues were reactive with Leu-1. In contrast, B cells were detectable with HLB-1 in only 2 of 17 cases. Leu-2a-positive cells were dominant in four cases, whereas Leu-3a positive cells were dominant in only three cases. In seven cases, both cells infiltrated to the same degree. Leu-2a positive cells tended to be dominant in the cases with earlier clinical stages.
A rare case of extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma in a 47-year-old woman is reported. The tumor was located in the soft tissue of left upper arm without any involvement of the humerus. The outer portion of the tumor was histologically composed of primitive mesenchymal cells, and the inner portion showed zones of cartilaginous differentiation. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells in the primitive areas had a relatively small number of mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and free polysomes, and the matrix of the tumor consisted of dense bundles of collagen fibrils. The cartilaginous cells seen in the central portion of tumor were embedded in the matrix of abundant collagen fibrils and matrix granules. They had polysomes, well-developed Golgi complexes, and ample rough endoplasmic reticulum frequently with dilatation. Clear zones adjacent to the cells were seen in the extracellular matrix. With a review of the literature, the histogenesis of this particular tumor is discussed.
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Glomerular localization of Hageman factor and fibrin-related antigen (FRA) was examined in 31 cases of IgA nephropathy by immunofluorescent techniques. Hageman factor was observed in 21 cases (68%) and FRA in 24 cases (77%). It is suggested that blood coagulation occurs and fibrin is formed in the glomerulus of IgA nephropathy.
Using rapid and reusable affinity columns, we established a method to measure beta-endorphin (beta END) and beta-lipotropin (beta LPH) separately in human plasma. One column contained antibodies against the N-terminal portion of beta LPH, and the other contained antibodies against beta END. The first column separated beta LPH from beta END and concentrated beta LPH as well, and the second separated beta LPH from concentrated beta END. Mean plasma levels (at 0830-0930 h) of beta END and beta LPH in 10 normal subjects were 1.1 +/- 0.1 (+/- SE) and 4.1 +/- 0.4 fmol/ml, respectively; both were markedly elevated in patients with ACTH/LPH hypersecretory states. The molar ratios of plasma levels of beta END and beta LPH were fairly constant in normal subjects (0.28 +/- 0.01), unchanged in patients with Cushing's disease and Cushing's disease after adrenalectomy, lower in patients with Addison's disease (P less than 0.001), higher in patients with chronic bone pain (P less than 0.001), and variable in patients with the ectopic ACTH syndrome. These data indicate that beta END and beta LPH can be measured separately in plasma by simple and reproducible procedures.
In order to evaluate the significance of sympathetic nerve activity in the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of borderline hypertension or mild or moderate essential hypertension, plasma noradrenaline concentration (PNA) at supine rest and pressor response to infused noradrenaline (NA-R) were evaluated in these in-patients. A significantly positive correlation (r = 0.395, p less than 0.001) between PNA and age was found in normotensive subjects (NT), but not in essential hypertensives (EHT). In the young (below 40 years of age) group, the mean value of PNA in EHT was significantly higher (p less than 0.05) than that in NT. However no significant difference in PNA between NT and EHT was observed in the middle-age (40-59 years) and old-age (above 60 years) groups. PNA was highest in borderline hypertensives (BHT), second highest in EHT with WHO stage I (WHO-I), third in EHT with WHO stage II (WHO-II), and lowest in NT. Among these age-matched four groups, significant differences in the mean value of PNA were found between NT and BHT (p less than 0.001) or WHO-I (p less than 0.05), and between BHT and WHO-II (p less than 0.05). In a comparison of the age-matched NT, normal renin EHT (NRH) and low renin EHT (LRH), the mean value of PNA in NRH was significantly higher than that in NT (p less than 0.001) and LRH (p less than 0.001). Similar differences were observed in the peak value of PNA during 20 minutes when the head was tilted up. A close positive correlation between PNA and simultaneously measured mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the young EHT (r = 0.698, p less than 0.001) and WHO-I (r = 0.631, p less than 0.001), and a weak correlation in the middle-age EHT (r = 0.435, p less than 0.05) and NRH (r = 0.311, p less than 0.05) were demonstrated immediately after hospital admission. In the old-age EHT, WHO-II and LRH, however, no significant correlation was found between PNA and MAP. The mean value of NA-R in young (p less than 0.005) and middle-aged EHT (p less than 0.001) was significantly greater than that in respectively age-matched NT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A 47-year-old woman with normotensive primary aldosteronism is reported. In this case, hypopotassemia was found, but the patient's blood pressure was within the normal range. Her condition was diagnosed as primary aldosteronism without hypertension, which is very rare, based on an increased level of plasma aldosterone concentration, low plasma renin activity, and a typical finding of aldosterone-producing adenoma by adrenal scintigraphy. In the present case, similar values for urinary volume, renal function, plasma aldosterone concentration, plasma renin activity, plasma volume, total exchangeable sodium, urinary kallikrein excretion and a similar weight of the resected adenoma, but a shorter duration between the onset of symptom and hospital admission were observed as compared with those in 13 previously experienced cases of primary aldosteronism with hypertension. Thus, a shorter duration of primary aldosteronism appears to be an important factor in explaining the mechanism of normotension. However, we were unable to reach a definite conclusion and this is only a hypothesis. Further investigation will be required to clarify the mechanism of normotension in primary aldosteronism.
Plasma soluble fibrin monomer complexes (SFMC) in 10 patients with nephrotic syndrome were measured to demonstrate the contribution of hypoalbuminemia to the SFMC formation. The levels of SFMC as well as plasma fibrinogen (Fbg) levels were significantly higher than those in control subjects. There was a negative correlation between the levels of SFMC and serum albumin, and also between Fbg and serum albumin. The increase in SFMC levels which indicates the intravascular generation of thrombin might be correlated to hypoalbuminemia in nephrotic syndrome with hypercoagulability.
This investigation was conducted to examine the immunosuppressive potential of phenytoin in vivo and to document a correlation between phenytoin therapy and depressed lymphocyte responsiveness to mitogens. It was thought that phenytoin, the most widely used anticonvulsant agent, may play some role in the immunosuppression seen in brain-tumor patients. The effect of phenytoin on mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte function was evaluated by tritiated (3H)-thymidine incorporation and lymphocyte nuclear size distribution. Lymphocytes from either phenytoin-treated or normal rabbits were incubated for 90 hours in culture medium in the presence of three mitogens: phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), and pokeweed mitogen (PWM). Significant suppression of mitogen-induced activation of the lymphocytes from treated animals was demonstrated. The present studies suggest a possible connection between phenytoin therapy and altered immune competence in brain-tumor patients.
To investigate the alterations of phosphoseryl/phosphothreonyl-protein phosphatases in neoplastic tissues, the cytosols of rat liver and AH-13, a strain of rat ascites hepatoma, were chromatographed on DEAE-cellulose and the fractions obtained were assayed for protein phosphatase with glycogen synthase D and phosphorylase alpha as phosphoprotein substrates. While the glycogen synthase phosphatase and phosphorylase phosphatase activities of liver cytosol were largely due to phosphatases IA and II, respectively, as previously reported, these phosphatases were absent or present in only small amounts in AH-13 cytosol, whose glycogen synthase phosphatase and phosphorylase phosphatase activities were due almost wholly to a novel protein phosphatase that appeared to be absent in liver. This phosphatase, termed phosphatase H, was purified further by aminohexyl-Sepharose-4B and Sephadex G-200 chromatography without altering its glycogen synthase D/phosphorylase alpha activity ratio. Purified phosphatase H required Mg2+ or Mn2+ for activity and had a molecular weight of about 330,000. It displayed a substrate specificity broader than that of either phosphatase IA or II.
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Two distinct antigen systems (L26 and L27) specifically expressed in human B lymphocytes were identified using TB2-2B3 (2B3) and T3-5B3 (5B3) monoclonal antibodies, respectively. Whereas L26 antigen defined by 2B3 were rarely expressed on the surface of B cells but abundant in the cytoplasm, 127 antigens detected by 5B3 was clearly expressed on the cell surface. These two antigens appeared to be restricted in their expression to B cells, as they were found in most B cells but not other cell types including thymocytes, T cells, monocytes and granulocytes. Functional studies demonstrated that L27 was more easily lost from B cells after activation with pokeweed mitogen than was L26. Likewise, plasma cell myeloma, as well as normal plasma cells, was devoid of both L26 and L27, whereas immunoblastic sarcoma of B cell type expressed L26 but not L27. These two antigens co-existed in the same B cell lines including Epstein-Barr virus transformed B cell lines, B cell type acute lymphatic leukaemia (B-ALL) cell line, Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines and myeloma cell lines, but pre-B and common ALL cell lines were entirely negative for both L26 and L27. Immunoprecipitation studies showed that L26 consisted of at least two polypeptide chains with molecular weights of 30K and 33K daltons, which were clearly distinct from HLA-DR antigens. The antigen L27 is presently under study.
Two distinct novel antigen systems preferentially expressed in rat granulocytes and macrophages were detected using two different monoclonal antibodies (R2-1A6 and R2-2B1). These two antibodies reacted with approximately 50% of rat bone marrow cells, most granulocytes, blood monocytes, alveolar macrophages and peptone-elicited peritoneal macrophages, but not with red blood cells, platelets, thymocytes and T lymphocytes. In addition, R2-2B1 but not R2-1A6 antibody cross-reacted weakly with rat B cells. These two monoclonals also reacted with some reticular elements in rat lymphoid organs including epithelial reticular cells in the thymic medulla and follicular dendritic cells in the lymphoid germinal centre, as well as with the specialized endothelium in the marginal sinuses of the spleen and the post-capillary venules of the lymph node, where lymphocyte recirculation takes place. These antibodies, however, did not label so-called 'dendritic cells' bearing Ia antigens on their cell surfaces, which were found to be located in the thymic medulla, thymus-dependent areas of rat lymphoid tissues and the interstitium of various non-lymphoid organs, suggesting that these dendritic cells, presumably ascribed to those associated with accesory cell function, are separable from the mononuclear phagocyte system in rats by their different reactivities with R2-1A6 and R2-2B1 antibodies.
A case of lipoma of the spermatic cord is presented. The patient is a 68-year-old with the chief complaint of indolent swelling of the left scrotal content which had been noticed about a month ago. A firm elastic and walnut-sized mass with positive transillumination was palpable in the left spermatic cord, but ultrasound sonography demonstrated that it was a solid mass. Though the tumor was punctured with a 18-gauge needle, nothing could be aspirated. The tumor was removed and histologically diagnosed as lipoma originating in the left spermatic cord. Including the present case, 38 Japanese cases of lipoma of the spermatic cord are reviewed.