Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II is an important growth factor in development of the central nervous system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate expression of IGF-II and IGF receptor type 1 (IGFR1) in various pediatric brain tumors. Immunohistochemistry for IGF-II and IGFR1 was performed on 15 choroid plexus papillomas (CPPs) including 1 atypical CPP, 2 choroid plexus carcinomas (CPCs), 5 anaplastic ependymomas, 7 nonanaplastic ependymomas (simply referred to as "ependymoma"), 5 medulloblastomas, 1 cerebral neuroblastoma, and 1 atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) along with 10 non-neoplastic choroid plexus and 3 non-neoplastic ependymal linings. All non-neoplastic choroid plexus, CPPs, CPCs, anaplastic ependymomas, ATRT, 71% of ependymomas, and 67% of non-neoplastic ependymal linings showed cytoplasmic positivity for IGF-II, whereas all medulloblastomas and the cerebral neuroblastoma were negative for IGF-II. In addition to cytoplasmic positivity for IGFR1, membranous positivity was observed in 73% of CPPs, both CPCs, the ATRT, 22% of non-neoplastic choroid plexus, 80% of anaplastic ependymomas, and 29% of ependymomas, but not in any medulloblastoma, cerebral neuroblastoma, or non-neoplastic ependymal lining. IGF-II and IGFR1 may play roles in the pathogeneses of CPP, CPC, anaplastic ependymoma, ependymoma, and ATRT. Immunohistochemical testing for IGF-II and IGFR1 may be useful in differentiating ATRT, CPC, and anaplastic ependymoma from medulloblastoma and cerebral neuroblastoma.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nasal mucociliary clearance in patients with upper and lower respiratory diseases.

The nasal mucociliary clearance was measured in 71 subjects with nasal allergy (NA) (56 subjects without sinusitis and 15 with sinusitis), 12 subjects with bronchial asthma (BA) (7 without, 5 with) and 7 subjects with aspirin-induced asthma (AIA) using a saccharin test. The results were compared with those obtained in a control group of 15 healthy subjects. The saccharin time (ST) values for both NA and BA subjects without sinusitis (16.9 +/- 9.9 and 20.1 +/- 9.4 min, respectively) did not differ from that of the healthy subjects (16.3 +/- 5.3 min). However, ST values in NA and BA subjects with sinusitis (37.6 +/- 22.9 and 57.0 +/- 6.7 min, respectively) were significantly higher than those of healthy subjects (p < 0.01). The ST value of AIA subjects (13.0 +/- 5.4 min) showed no significant difference compared with that of the control group. These results suggest that allergic reactions do not influence the nasal mucociliary clearance and that the property of mucus complicated with sinusitis is important. Also, sinusitis observed in AIA may be somewhat different from ordinary sinusitis complicated with NA and BA.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of multiple-antigen simultaneous test and CAP systems for diagnosis of nasal allergy.

The multiple-antigen simultaneous test (MAST) is a simple system that uses no radioactive agents and allows simultaneous examination of multiple antigens. CAP is a quick new, in vitro system that is more sensitive than the radio-allergosorbent test (RAST). To evaluate their clinical efficacies, we examined the correlation between the MAST and CAP systems. Serum samples were collected from 33 patients with nasal allergies, 13 males and 20 females, mean age 31.1 years. The MAST and CAP were used for 7 inhaled allergens: house dust, Dermatophagoides farinae, Japanese cedar, timothy, sweet vernal grass, ragweed and mugwort. The correlation coefficients found for MAST and CAP were significant for all the allergens tested. In addition, high values for sensitivity, specificity and efficiency were obtained for all the allergens. The MAST system provided the same information as the CAP system. Although CAP tended to have better sensitivity, some of its positive results may clinically be false-positive. We believe that the MAST and CAP are both useful for the detection of allergens but that the diagnosis of allergy must be based on results of detailed examinations such as use of the skin test, the nasal provocation test and clinical symptoms.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cytopathology of oncocytic carcinoid tumor of the lung mimicking granular cell tumor. A case report.

BACKGROUND: The cytopathologic features of oncocytic carcinoid tumor of the lung, a rare variant of carcinoid tumor that is composed exclusively of oncocytes, have not been described before in detail. CASE: The bronchial brush smears from an 80-year-old female with an endobronchial obstructive tumor showed single and loose clusters of tumor cells with abundant granular, eosinophilic cytoplasm. The differential diagnoses included oncocytic carcinoid tumor, granular cell tumor, other oncocytic tumors of bronchial origin and metastatic oncocytic tumors. Immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy confirmed the diagnosis of oncocytic carcinoid tumor. CONCLUSION: Oncocytic carcinoid tumor of the lung has cytopathologic features similar to those of granular cell tumor and pulmonary oncocytoma. Immunocytochemistry, electron microscope or both are necessary to distinguish these neoplasms.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Experimental labyrinthitis in rats caused by infecting with virus causing hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).

Acute and persistent viral infection of the inner ear of rats was induced with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) virus following intraperitoneal inoculation. Newborn (within 24 h after birth) rats were inoculated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with HFRS virus (B-1 strain), and the cochlea was examined using an immunohistochemical technique for the localization of viral antigens 1 week (acute infection) and 1 year (persistent infection) after infection. Virus-specific antigens were detected in the inner ear structures of the rats suffering from both acute and persistent infection. Morphological changes in the inner ear structures of these rats were observed, with hemorrhage and infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages. Moreover virus could be isolated from the blood of all infected rats. In the present study, we have proved that HFRS virus can infect the inner ear via the viremia.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunocytochemical detection of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) in choroid plexus papilloma: a possible marker for differential diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) has been detected in the choroid plexus of animals by means of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, and this factor is thought to play an important role in the central nervous system (CNS). Little is known, however, about the presence and localization of this substance in the choroid plexus and in choroid plexus papilloma in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 5 normal choroid plexus and 10 choroid plexus papillomas were examined for IGF-II by immunocytochemistry. IGF-II was not detected in normal human choroid plexus, whereas it was found in choroid plexus papilloma. Furthermore, to assess the possibility that IGF-II could serve as an immunohistological marker of choroid plexus papilloma, we used the same technique to examine paraffin-embedded samples from various kinds of brain tumors. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that IGF-II may be a useful marker for choroid plexus papilloma in differential diagnosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Development of a miniature intraventricular axial flow blood pump.

A new intraventricular axial flow blood pump has been designed and developed as a totally implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD). This pump consists of an impeller combined with a guide-vane, a tube housing, and a DC motor. The pump is introduced into the LV cavity through the LV apex, and the outlet cannula is passed antegrade across the aortic valve. Blood is withdrawn from the LV through the inlet ports at the pump base, and discharged to the ascending aorta. Our newly developed axial flow pump system has the following advantages: 1) it is a simple and compact system, 2) minimal blood stasis both in the device and the LV cavity, 3) minimal blood contacting surface of the pump, 4) easy accessibility with a less invasive surgical procedure, and 5) low cost. A pump flow > 5 L/min was obtained against 100 mmHg differential pressure in the mock circulatory system. The pump could produce a passive pulsatile flow effect with a beating heart more efficiently than other non-pulsatile pumps because of minimal pressure drop and inertia along the bypass tract. Anatomic fit studies using dissected hearts of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) cadavers showed that this pump could smoothly pass through the aortic valve without any interference with mitral valve function. Recently, a dynamic pressure groove bearing and a miniature lip seal have been developed. The dynamic pressure groove bearing has a simple structure and acts as a pressure resistant sealing mechanism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiomyopathy, Dilated↗