Recent studies have suggested that the regulation of apoptosis during wound healing is important in scar establishment and the development of pathological scarring. In this study, we demonstrate that keloid fibroblasts can be identified as apoptotic cells because of their highly condensed chromatin and discrete nuclear fragments. To further reveal the phenomenon of apoptosis, we quantified the number of terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells in surgically resected tissues of keloids (N = 10), hypertrophic scars (N = 10), normal healed flat scars (N = 10), and dermatofibroma (N = 10). The number of TUNEL-positive cells was relatively low, but was significantly higher for the keloid group compared with the normally healed flat scar group (p = 0.004), suggesting reduced cell survival and increased apoptotic cell death in a subpopulation of keloid fibroblasts. Furthermore, the number of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly higher for the keloid group compared with the dermatofibroma group (p = 0.044), suggesting that a subpopulation of keloid fibroblasts may suppress tumorgenicity at a greater rate than dermatofibroma by undergoing cell death. Hypertrophic scars had significantly higher levels of apoptosis than normally healed flat scars (p = 0.033). Therefore, these results suggest that selected fibroblasts in keloids and hypertrophic scars undergo apoptosis, which may play a role in the process of pathological scarring.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Follicular bronchiolitis (FBB) associated with Legionella pneumophilia infection.

An 8-month-old girl with respiratory distress and stridor was admitted to the authors' hospital. Two days later, she died of respiratory insufficiency due to pneumonia. Autopsy confirmed the presence of follicular bronchiolitis (FBB) in both lungs. After considering her clinical course, the authors focused on three pathogens: Legionella pneumophilia, Pneumocystis carinii, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Only Legionella pneumophilia was detected by both immunohistochemistry and PCR.

Bronchiolitis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Follicular bronchiolitis associated with Legionella pneumophilia infection.

An 8-month-old girl with respiratory distress and stridor was admitted to our hospital. Two days later, she died of respiratory insufficiency due to pneumonia. Autopsy confirmed the presence of follicular bronchiolitis (FBB) in both lungs. After consideration of her clinical course, we focused on three pathogens: Legionella pneumophilia, Pneumocystis carinii, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Only Legionella pneumophilia was detected by both immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction.

Bronchiolitis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Ossifying lipoma independent of bone tissue.

A 46-year-old Japanese male was referred to a local hospital because of a firm, nontender mass on his neck. On physical examination, the tumor was soft, well demarcated, 3 x 2 cm in size and located in the submucosal region. It was entirely separate from the vertebrae. The resected tumor was shown to be a lipoma with focal ossification. Ossifying lipomas are rare, and the cases which are independent of bone even more so. A literature review revealed that ossifying lipoma independent of bone tissue has been reported in only 8 cases, and, interestingly, all of them occurred in the head and neck region.

Head and Neck Neoplasms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

New trial for endoscopical observation of esophagus by dye spraying method.

The Lugol dye spraying method in endoscopy is compared with the usual endoscopy. Its diagnostic values are discussed from the endoscopical and histological point of views. Normal esophageal epithelium is stained brown or dark brown with 5% of Lugol's solution, and shows a "silk-crape" like surface appearance when observed close up. The cancerous or inflammatory epithelium of the stomach and esophagus do not stain. With the sue of directed biopsy this reveals the usefulness of this method, specially for finding small esophagel cancer and for accurately delineating the extent of a cancer. Furthermore, esophagitis is easier to diagnose. As healing occurs, the staining characteristic return. Esophageal epithelium capacity for staining with Lugol's solution seems to be related to the glycogen content of the squamous epithelium.

Esophageal Diseases↗