[Combined hepatocellular and cholangiocellular carcinoma: a case report with invasion to the left hepatic duct of hepatocellular carcinoma].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Y Kon.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Angiotensinogen-deficient mice provide a model to examine the roles of angiotensin II as a renal growth factor in vivo. We monitored nephrogenesis and renovascular development in angiotensinogen-deficient mice from Embryonic Day 13 (E13) to 4 weeks after birth. Northern analysis of homozygote (Atg-/-) mice confirmed the absence of angiotensinogen mRNA in the liver and the kidneys. Embryonic kidneys in Atg-/- mice from E13 to E18 exhibited active nephrogenesis, as also observed in Atg+/- mice and Atg+/+ mice. Furthermore, metanephroi harvested at E12 from Atg-/- embryos showed branching morphogenesis of ureteric bud and tubulogenesis similar to metanephrol from Atg-/- embryos grown with exogenous angiotensin II in serum-free culture. In newborn Atg-/- mice, we observed uniform dilation of the pelvis accompanied by a coarse medulla, which was not noted in Atg+/- or Atg+/+ mice. Hydronephrosis in Atg-/- mice continued, and renal papillae underwent atrophy for the 4 weeks after birth. Another characteristic aspect of the morphology of Atg-/- mice was the thickening of vascular walls as little as 2 weeks after birth. Immunohistochemistry revealed recruitment of renin in hyperplastic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in Atg-/- mice after 2 weeks. Electron microscopy confirmed that the majority of hyperplastic VSMC contained various sized renin granules with abundant endoplasmic reticulum. In situ hybridization demonstrated that expression of renin mRNA became prominent in parallel with hyperplasia of VSMC, as well as recruitment of renin protein. Furthermore, at 4 weeks, Atg-/- mice expressed alpha-smooth muscle actin in the mesangium, whereas none was ever found in that of Atg+/- mice and Atg+/+ mice. In conclusion, the renin-angiotensin system seems not be essential for nephrogenesis in vivo. Furthermore, hyperplasia of VSMC and expression of the smooth-muscle phenotype in the mesangium are inducible even in the absence of angiotensin II, with hypotension, in vivo.
BACKGROUND: The presence of extrarenal or local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been noted in several tissues, although its functions have not yet been clarified. Renin from the coagulating gland (CG) is the most recently discovered local RAS and is a significant subject for investigation because large amounts of both mRNA and proteins are detected in this organ. Recently, it has been reported that testosterone influences renin synthesis in several extrarenal tissues, although it has no effect on intrarenal renin. Therefore, it is possible that CG renin is also regulated by testosterone. METHODS: Forty-four male C57BL/6 mice, aged 3 wk to 6 mo, were used in studies on the ontogeny and androgen regulation of the RAS in the CG. The tissues were fixed with Bouin's solution and paraffin sections were stained with immunohistochemical methods using antirenin antiserum. In each immunostained section, the relative number of renin-containing cells in terminal portions of the CG were counted. RESULTS: Immunoreactivity for renin was first detected at 6 wk after birth. After that time, the number of renin-containing cells gradually increased throughout the experiment. In adults, several patterns of renin immunoreactivity were demonstrated in almost all epithelial cells of CGs, specifically; (1) basolateral granular reaction, (2) diffuse immunoreactivity throughout the cytoplasm, and (3) restricted nuclear reaction. Excretory products of some terminal lumina were also found to be positive for renin. At 10 days after castration, renin-containing cells in ductal termini were decreased and remained at low levels until at 4 wk after castration. After testosterone injection, numerical values of renin-containing cells were high at 1 wk and then decreased at 2-3 wk. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that CG renin of the mouse is expressed together with sexual maturation during development and that it depends on the testis, possibly the male sex hormone.
BACKGROUND: The ultrastructural characteristics of epithelioid cells in the wall of the chicken aorta have been studied by several investigators. Their characteristics were homologous to those of carotid body type I cells and are considered to be one of the peripheral chemoreceptors. However, there are few descriptions about their location, distribution, and how they react to chemical signals, nor have there been many reports about the localization of bioactive substances in the epithelioid cells. Therefore we designed this investigation to address these problems. METHODS: Wholemount immunohistochemistry using antiserotonin antiserum, scanning (SEM), and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy were used to observe the epithelioid cells and the lumen of the chicken aorta. The localizations of bioactive substances in the epithelioid cells were immunohistochemically investigated using 11 antisera. RESULTS: Epithelioid cells were dispersed in the wall of the aorta, forming a band approximately 1 mm in width, located 10 mm proximal to the confluence of the right and left ligamenta arteriosa. Serotonin, chromogranin, and neuron specific enolase immunoreactivities were detected in the epithelioid cells. SEM observations clearly demonstrated intraendothelial fenestrations, 1-3 microns in diameter, on the endothelial surface of the region of the band of epithelioid cells. TEM observations revealed that these fenestrations corresponded to endothelial gaps, directly beneath which epithelioid cells were sometimes located. CONCLUSIONS: The epithelioid cells are in direct access to the aortic lumen through endothelial fenestrations. Thus they may be able to perceive chemical signals from arterial blood directly.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Histochemical characteristics and immunological surface phenotypes of globule leukocytes (GLs) of normal goats were investigated in the intestine. In the small intestine, GLs were concentrated in the base of the villus and around the crypt, whereas in the cecum and colon they were randomly distributed. Their cytoplasmic granules exclusively stained with phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin, and were negative for peroxidase and histamine in contrast to those of subepithelial mast cells. The existence of chondroitin sulfate in some granules of GLs and heparin in most granules of mast cells were revealed by alcian blue staining and digestion with chondroitinase ABC. Isolated intestinal GLs were positive for T cell receptor (TcR) 1-N24 (gamma delta) and CD8 alpha, and negative for WC1-N3 and WC1-N4. Cryostat sections of ileum revealed preferential intraepithelial distribution of both TcR1-N24+ cells and CD8+ cells. WC1-N3+ and WC1-N4+ cells were rarely seen in the epithelium and lamina propria. These results indicate that caprine GLs are a gamma delta T cell subset, which is a different cell population from WC1 positive gamma delta T cells.
Hybrid sterility is thought to play an important role in the differentiation and maintenance of respective biological species. In the present study, as a first step to clarify the mechanism of hybrid sterility caused by the Hst-1 gene in mice, the male sterile hybrid between C57BL/6 and M. m. musculus was investigated by histological techniques. Many spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes were observed in the testes of the hybrid sterile mice. Neither secondary spermatocytes nor spermatids were detected throughout the sections. It was noted that some spermatocytes showed degenerations in part of the lumina of the seminiferous tubules. In the chromosomal preparations of primary sterile hybrids, the percentage statistical values for the spermatogonia/leptotene stage were increased and those for the zygotene/pachytene stage were markedly decreased. Neither round nor elongated spermatids were detected throughout the preparations. It was observed that many primary spermatocytes were degenerated. These results suggest that spermatogenesis stops at the leptotene stage and that a small number of cells progress to the next meiosis, but degenerate to die during the pachytene stage.
The ICP4 homolog of Marek's disease virus (MDV ICP4) is a possible candidate for the transactivator of the early genes. We transfected MDCC-MSB-1 (MSB-1) tumor cells with plasmid including a coding region of MDV ICP4 using cationic liposome. As carriers for intranuclear transport, high mobility group -1 and -2 proteins were bound to the plasmid DNA before forming liposomes. We detected transcripts from the plasmid 2 hr after transfection by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. We also detected abundant transcripts of endogenous ICP4 2-96 hr after transfection. These data suggested that expression of introduced MDV ICP4 gene enhanced the expression of endogenous MDV ICP4. On the other hand, quantitative PCR analysis for virus genome DNA indicated no significant alteration of copy number of virus genome in transfected MSB-1 cells, suggesting that reactivation of virus requires more than turning on MDV ICP4 gene.
To clarify the distribution and frequency of gastric cancer in the upper third of the stomach, especially in the para-cardiac region and fornix, we reviewed 634 lesions of all gastric cancers in any location in the University Hospital of Tsukuba University from April 1985 to March 1992. The para-cardiac region was defined as a circular area of 6 cm in diameter around the cardia. We found 56 lesions (8.8%) in the para-cardiac region, almost all of which were concentrated in the distal half of the para-cardiac region, and only three of which (0.47%) were in the fornix. Cancer in the upper third of the stomach tended to occur predominantly in aged male patients, and histologically most of them were classified as having differentiated adenocarcinoma. Since the percentage of advanced cancer at the para-cardiac region was much higher than at any other location, we should be careful to obtain double-contrast images of sufficient quality during the upper gastrointestinal examinations and not to overlook subtle changes in this region during the interpretation of films.
BACKGROUND: Renin-containing (RC) cells in small ruminant kidneys have been known to be widely distributed along the blood vessels. In the present study, RC cells in developing sheep kidneys were studied to investigate not only the appearance but distribution with the potential physiological significance using immunohistochemical and histoplanimetrical techniques. METHODS: Seven fetal, 12 newborn, and 3 adult metanephric kidneys were used and immunostained by anti-renin antiserum. In the histoplanimetrical analysis, the numerical values of RC cells existing at the walls of 3 major arterial types in the kidneys were calculated. RESULTS: At day 44 of gestation, RC cells were already demonstrated in the walls of renal, interlobar, and afferent vessels, located in the deep cortex and the medulla. In intermediate gestational periods, RC cells were detected throughout the intrarenal arterial trees. In late gestational periods, RC cells expressed in the walls of interlobar/arcuate and interlobular arteries tended to decrease or disappear gradually, while they were distributed predominantly in the afferent glomerular vessels. In newborn lambs, especially days 1 to 3 after birth, increased numbers of RC cells were demonstrated throughout the arterial trees in the kidneys. In older lambs, RC cells located in the interlobar/arcuate arteries and the proximal region of the interlobular arteries decreased in number and gradually disappeared. Some RC cells were still distributed in the distal portion of the interlobular artery even in the adult sheep. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the wide distribution of RC cells in sheep kidney is formed in perinatal life, and that the neuronal regulation is associated with the maintenance of this distribution.
We have generated transgenic mice that express the simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen under the control of a 1109 bp 5'-flanking sequence of the human thyrotropin beta-subunit (TSH beta) gene. The hybrid gene, termed TTP-1, was microinjected into fertilized mouse eggs and 11 transgenic mice were obtained. One of the transgenic mice, a female, a phenotypical dwarf, developed a pituitary tumor and wasted away from 7 to 9 weeks after birth. To establish the transgenic mouse line, her ovaries were transferred to a normal female, whose ovaries were removed beforehand. To examine the tissue specificity of transgene expression, mRNA of SV40 large T antigen was monitored in various tissues from the transgenic mice by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis, and was detected only in the pituitary. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses showed that the pituitary tumors of the transgenic mice were composed of poorly differentiated pituitary cells expressing SV40 large T antigen. These results indicated that the 1109 bp sequence of the human TSH beta 5'-flanking region is essential for pituitary-specific expression of SV40 large T antigen in transgenic mice, which exhibited a dwarf phenotype and developed pituitary tumors. The tumors were composed of undifferentiated cells and did not produce thyrotropin. These transgenic mice should provide a valuable animal model for studying the pathogenesis of anterior pituitary tumors.
Appendices colli (App. colli) were investigated by anatomical and histological methods in the goat. App. colli were composed of elastic cartilage located at central and the skin covering the cartilage, which included arterioles along the cartilage and nerve bundles. Three types of muscles connected to App. colli; superficial muscle bundles, a branch of the omohyoideus muscle, and a muscle arising from the pharyngeal raphe (appendico-pharyngeal muscle). The latter two muscles were connected to the root of the App. colli where the muscle fibers transformed into the perichondrium of the elastic cartilage. The appendico-pharyngeal muscle was innervated by branches from the glossopharyngeal nerve which were composed of myelinated nerve fibers. The subcutaneous area of the App. colli was supplied by cutaneous rami of the vagus and the second cervical nerves. The innervation and the musculature confirmed that the cartilage of the App. colli were derived from third and fourth branchial arches.
We have previously generated "Tsukuba hypertensive mice" with elevated blood pressure by cross-mating separate lines of transgenic animals carrying either 15 kb of the human renin gene including its native 3-kb promoter or 14 kb of the human angiotensinogen gene along with its 1.3-kb promoter, the former of which is expressed predominantly in the kidney and the latter of which is also expressed in the kidney to levels comparable to those found in the liver. To investigate whether the integrated human angiotensinogen gene is prominently expressed in the kidney of transgenic mice, we have analyzed a production region of the transgene mRNA by in situ hybridization technique. This analysis clearly demonstrated that human angiotensinogen mRNA is localized specifically to the cortex region of transgenic mouse kidney. The present finding indicates a possible involvement of the renal renin-angiotensin system in the pathogenesis of high blood pressure in transgenic mice.
BACKGROUND: Amok is reviewed from a historical standpoint, tracing how it has changed from the Hindu states of India where it was a war tactic to the sudden incomprehensible violence and mass murder by a single individual associated with the syndrome today. METHOD: A typical amok attack is described and the criteria for amok discussed. Amok in Malaysia, New Guinea, Laos, North America and other countries are presented. The possible motives for such violent killings and a possible psychiatric diagnosis in relation to contemporary diagnostic criteria is discussed. CONCLUSION: Classification of amok remains unresolved. The reason for its frequency in and around Malaysia remains unknown.
Distributional and immunohistochemical characteristics of the feline globule leukocyte (GL) were investigated by light microscopy. The GL, which contained eosinophilic large granules in the cytoplasm, was frequently found in the epithelia of the intestine and gall bladder, and less frequently found in those of the gastric pit, intrahepatic bile duct, and interlobular secretory duct of the pancreas. No GL was seen in the respiratory and urogenital organs. The GLs composed a homogeneous cell population including no mast cells according to the following histochemical stainings; phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin, alcian blue and peroxidase. The feline GL showed perforin-like immunoreactivity to anti-human perforin monoclonal antibody, but did not show histamine-immunoreactivity to anti-histamine polyclonal antibody. The results suggest that the feline GL is a lineage of large granular lymphocytes. The epitheliotropism and characteristics as granular lymphocytes of the feline GLs were similar to those of the intestinal gamma delta T cells of the mouse.
We retrospectively evaluated the plain chest frontal radiographs in four cases in which the lung cancers were quite difficult to observe prospectively on plain chest frontal radiographs in spite of the relatively large size of tumors (over 3 cm in diameter). Three of four cases were central-type lung cancers, two squamous cell carcinomas and one adenosquamous cell carcinoma. Since there was no associated atelectasis or obstructive pneumonia in these cases, wall thickening and indistinctness of the lumen of the central bronchi were the significant findings for diagnosis. One case proven to be adenocarcinoma was located in the periphery of S6. A focally increased radiopacity behind the descending pulmonary artery was the only finding to pointed out. Since tumors were not demonstrated directly in the aerated lungs, the condition of the central bronchi as well as the degree radiopacity of the pulmonary artery should be carefully interpreted.
This study describes the assessment of the medical and psychiatric needs of adults with a mental handicap recently resettled in community facilities including 'staffed houses'. No statistically significant differences were found for behaviour problems and psychiatric diagnosis prior to resettlement and one year after. However, increased use of primary care and expert psychiatric service were found following the resettlement. Clinical and service issues in relation to successful maintenance of people with mental handicap in the community are discussed.
Both renin and cathepsin B were co-localized in identical granules of adreno-cortical cells. At day 16 of gestation, many renin-containing granules were observed and gold particles showed homogeneous intragranular distribution; whereas, those for cathepsin B was distributed heterogeneously. At day 18 of gestation, renin immunoreactivity was decreased or undetectable, whereas cathepsin B was still demonstrated at the same level as on day 16 of gestation.