Autologous blood transfusion for kidney transplant recipients.

Autologous blood transfusion (ABT) is rarely employed in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD); these patients are usually anemic. Since 1998, we have attempted ABT for ESRD patients undergoing living-related kidney transplantation. Among 20 patients enrolled in this study the preoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were 10.0 +/- 1.2 mg/dL (range, 8.1-11.7) and 30.0 +/- 3.7% (range, 24.7-34.3), respectively. Blood volume collected on each occasion was 235.7 +/- 57.7 mL (range, 200-400), and the number of blood collections was 2.45 +/- 0.9 (range, 1-4). Total collected volume was 567.5 +/- 157.5 mL (range, 400-800). Symptomatic hypotension was seen in two patients, but vital signs recovered spontaneously. No other problems related to blood collection were observed. Allogeneic transfusion was need in only one patient (5%). ABT was safe and efficacious in ESRD patients scheduled for living-related kidney transplantation.

Anaphylactic reaction after initial exposure of Basiliximab: case reports.

Basiliximab is potent, relatively safe immunosuppressive induction agent used in transplantation. Prophylactic use at the time of transplantation has been advocated to improve allograft outcomes. We report two cases of kidney transplant recipients with anaphylactic reactions after initial exposure to Basiliximab.

Induction of vasculogenesis in breast cancer models.

Recently, there have been reports of postnatal vasculogenesis in cases of ischaemia models. The aim of the present study is to provide evidence of postnatal vasculogenesis in breast-cancer-bearing mice. Based on cell surface antigen expression, we isolated endothelial precursor cells from bone marrow, peripheral blood and tumour-infiltrating cells from mice that had received six human breast cancer xenografts. In all three areas (bone marrow, peripheral blood and tumour-infiltrating cells), endothelial precursor cell population was elevated in all transplanted mice. Differentiation and migration activities of endothelial precursor cells were measured by comparing levels of the endothelial precursor cell maturation markers Flk-1, Flt-1, Tie2, VE-cadherin and CD31 among these three areas. The endothelial precursor cell population was 14% or greater in the gated lymphocyte-size fraction of the inflammatory breast cancer xenograft named WIBC-9, which exhibits a hypervascular structure and de novo formation of vascular channels, namely vasculogenic mimicry (Shirakawa et al, 2001). In vitro, bone marrow-derived endothelial precursor cells from four human breast cancer xenografts proliferated and formed multiple clusters of spindle-shaped attaching cells on a vitronectin-coated dish. The attaching cells, which incorporated DiI-labelled acetylated low-density lipoprotein (DiI-acLDL) and were negative for Mac-1. The putative bone marrow derived endothelial precursor cell subset, which was double positive of CD34 and Flk-1, and comparative bone marrow derived CD34 positive with Flk-1 negative subset were cultured. The former subset incorporated DiI-acLDL and were integrated with HUVECs. Furthermore, they demonstrated significantly higher levels of murine vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-8 in culture supernatant on time course by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These findings constitute direct evidence that breast cancer induces postnatal vasculogenesis in vivo.

Polyethylenimine-mediated gene transfer into pancreatic tumor dissemination in the murine peritoneal cavity.

Although peritoneal dissemination of cancer cells often occurs at the advanced stages of pancreatic, gastric or ovarian cancers, no effective therapy has been established. Cationic lipid-mediated gene transfer into peritoneal dissemination may offer a prospect of safe therapies, but vector improvements are needed with regard to the efficiency and specificity of the gene transfer. In this study, the intraperitoneal injection of plasmid DNA:polyethylenimine (PEI) complexes into mice was evaluated as a gene delivery system for the peritoneal disseminations. The luciferase and beta-galactosidase genes were used as marker genes. PEI was more efficient than the cationic lipids examined in this study in vivo, and the transgene was preferentially expressed in the tumors. Although PCR analysis showed that the injected DNA was delivered to various organs, the distributed DNA became undetectable by 6 months after the gene transfer. Blood chemistry and histological analysis showed no significant toxicity in the injected mice. This study demonstrated that the intraperitoneal injection of DNA:PEI is a promising delivery method to transduce a gene into disseminated cancer nodules in the peritoneal cavity.

Anti-malarial activity of leaf-extract of hydrangea macrophylla, a common Japanese plant.

To find a new anti-malarial medicine derived from natural resources, we examined the leaves of 13 common Japanese plants in vitro. Among them, a leaf-extract of Hydrangea macrophylla, a common Japanese flower, inhibited the parasitic growth of Plasmodium falciparum. The IC50 of Hydrangea macrophylla leaf extract to Plasmodium falciparum was 0.18 microg/ml. The IC50 to NIH 3T3-3 cells, from a normal mouse cell line, was 7.2 microg/ml. Thus, selective toxicity was 40. For the in vivo test, we inoculated Plasmodium berghei, a rodent malaria parasite, to ddY mice and administered the leaf-extract of Hydrangea macrophylla (3.6 mg/0.2 ml) orally 3 times a day for 3 days. Malaria parasites did not appear in the blood of in the treated mice, but they did appear in the control group on day 3 or 4 after inoculation with the parasites. When leaf extract was administered to 5 mice 2 times a day for 3 days, malaria parasites did not appear in 4 of the mice but did appear in 1 mouse. In addition, the leaf-extract was administered orally 3 times a day for 3 days to Plasmodium berghei infected mice with a parasitemia of 2.7%. In the latter group, malaria parasites disappeared on day 3 after initiating the treatment, but they appeared again after day 5 or 6. Although we could not cure the mice entirely, we confirmed that the Hydrangea macrophylla leaf extract did contain an anti-malarial substance that can be administered orally.

Cystic lesion at the foramen magnum disseminated from a pituitary adenoma--case report.

A 38-year-old male presented with a cystic lesion at the foramen magnum due to intracranial dissemination from a pituitary adenoma. The primary tumor had required reoperation for regrowth twice. The tumor at the foramen magnum was removed surgically. Two smaller solid tumors were located in the left parietal convexity and the right temporal lobe. The former tumor was also removed surgically and the latter was observed. Histological examination showed the typical characteristics of pituitary adenoma in both surgical specimens. Immunohistochemical staining with MIB-1 and p53 antibodies showed low (< 1%) and negative reaction. Patients with pituitary adenoma, even benign tumors, must be carefully followed up for signs of metastasis.

Intracerebral cystic meningioma--case report.

A 46-year-old female presented with persistent bifrontal headache. Computed tomography revealed a large cystic tumor in the right temporoparietal area, which included a solid component. The tumor had no attachment to the dura. There was no peritumoral edema or mass effect usually found around cystic meningiomas. The solid component was totally removed. Histological examination indicated that the tumor was a fibrous meningioma. Intracerebral meningioma with a large cystic component without dural attachment should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic cerebral tumors.

Morphological characterization and subtyping of silent somatotroph adenomas.

GH-producing adenomas clinically are endocrine-active tumors accompanied with acromegaly in most instances. However, GH-producing adenomas apparently unassociated with acromegaly, or so-called silent somatotroph adenomas (SSA), have recently been reported but rarely. The reported cases are characterized by normal or slightly elevated serum levels of GH but without acromegaly. Tumor cells contain moderate, trace or no GH immunoreactivity. We experienced 7 cases of SSA which were not always similar in morphology and pathogenetic mechanism. They could be further divided into the following 3 subtypes. Subtype 1 (N = 2): a moderate number of cells were immunopositive for GH, and GH mRNA was also expressed in moderate or numerous cells. Densely granulated cells were noted. It is assumed that inhibition of hormone release into circulation. Subtype 2 (N = 3): a small number of cells were immunopositive for GH, while GH mRNA was expressed in numerous tumor cells. They were sparsely granulated cells containing fibrous bodies. These findings suggest that posttranslational processing of the gene product may be defective. Subtype 3 (N = 2): Only a scattered number of cells were immunopositive for GH and GH mRNA was co-localized in immunopositive cells. They were sparsely granulated cells containing poorly developed organelles that did not resemble those of typical sparsely granulated GH cells. The findings indicate that adenoma cells are largely immature with minimal GH lineage differentiation.

[Retroperitoneal Castleman's disease: a case report].

We report a case of retroperitoneal Castleman's disease. A 57-year-old woman was referred for evaluation of microscopic hematuria. Computed tomography demonstrated a small solid retroperitoneal mass. The mass was surgically resected and the histopathological diagnosis of the resected tissue was hyalin vascular type of Castleman's disease. Although retroperitoneal Castleman's disease is an uncommon disease. We should always consider this tumor in the differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumors.

Clinical and ultrastructural comparison of immunohistochemically inactive and gonadotropin-producing pituitary adenomas.

A clinicoendocrinological and ultrastructural comparison of immunohistochemically inactive pituitary adenomas from 14 patients and gonadotropin-positive pituitary adenomas from 26 patients was carried out. Clinicoendocrinological characteristics were similar except the male to female ratios. The immunohistochemically unstable antigenicity of gonadotropin prevents clear immunohistochemical characterization, but the difference between the two types is not absolute and may be an indication of a cell line relationship.

Mixed germ cell tumor of the basal ganglia: a case report.

A case of mixed germ cell tumor (germinoma and immature teratoma) of right cranial basal ganglia is presented. We followed the natural course for 8 months, and the change in his clinical, radiologic, and endocrinologic features was remarkable.

Colocalization of growth hormone (GH) and glycoprotein subunit alpha in GH-producing pituitary adenomas in acromegalic patients.

Thirty-one consecutive cases of pituitary adenoma in acromegalic patients were studied by immunohistochemistry. All adenomas contained cells immunoreactive with the anti-alpha-subunit of gonadotropic hormones (alpha; 0.6-53% of tumor cells) as well as with anti-growth hormone (GH; 4-74% of tumor cells). In serial section study, most cells immunoreactive with anti-alpha were identical to cells immunoreactive with anti-GH. There was a positive correlation between the percentages of cells immunoreactive for alpha in GH cells [alpha (%)/GH(%)] and those for prolactin (PRL) in immunoreactive tumor cells (PRL(%)/[PRL(%) + GH(%)]) in mixed GH cell-PRL cell adenomas, suggesting that the alpha-subunit may play a role in emergence of PRL cells.

Epidermoid cysts of the callosal region--three case reports.

Three patients with rare epidermoid cyst in the callosal region are described, two adjacent and one in the corpus callosum. Computed tomography revealed atypical features, i.e. a large, well-defined high-density mass unenhanced postcontrast and a well-defined hypodense mass with marginal calcification in one case each. Such a diffuse high-density mass may be caused by hemorrhage, highly concentrated protein or calcification of keratinized debris within the cyst. Marginal calcification may occur for unknown reasons. The cysts were subtotally removed.

[Immunohistochemistry of pituitary gland cells].

Immunohistochemistry is a very useful method for identifying the hormone produced in the acinar cells of the pituitary gland. The recent technical progress of the method have let it more popular and easy for many researchers, however, some basic points of the method have become to be missed on the contrary. Immunohistochemical results only show the fact that the immunoreactivity to the antibody remains in the examined tissue, but not the conclusion that the tissue produces hormone A. Some processes are needed in leading the latter conclusion from the former fact. Some necessary points in the process of the immunohistochemistry are discussed in the paper.

Prolactin presents in all pituitary tumors of acromegalic patients.

Twenty-two consecutive cases of adenoma in acromegalic patients were studied immunohistochemically. All the tumors contained prolactin (PRL)-reactive cells (3% to 53% of the total number of tumor cells) as well as growth hormone (GH)-reactive cells (4% to 74% of the total number of tumor cells). All acromegalic cases studied were thus plurihormonal adenomas containing GH and PRL; no pure GH cell adenoma was present. Twenty cases were further examined at the ultrastructural level in conjunction with postembedding double-labeling immunoelectron microscopy; 15 of these cases were diagnosed as mixed GH cell-PRL cell adenomas. The previously diagnosed pure GH cell adenomas possibly may have contained PRL cells and thus should be considered as mixed GH cell-PRL cell adenomas. Mammosomatotroph adenomas were rare in this series. Double-labeling immunoelectron microscopy, using protein A gold particles of two different sizes, greatly facilitated the distinction among GH, PRL, and mammosomatotroph cells.

Immunohistochemical analysis of 61 pituitary adenomas with a monoclonal antibody to the neuron-specific beta-tubulin isotype.

Pituitary adenomas surgically resected from 61 consecutive patients and 9 normal pituitary glands were studied by immunohistochemistry to determine the localization of the class III beta-tubulin isotype(neuron-specific) which is recognized by the monoclonal antibody TUJ1. In normal pituitary glands only a few cells were weakly immunopositive for TUJ1, whereas, in 43(73%) of 61 adenomas, more than 5% of tumor cells were immunopositive. The result may indicate that this neuron-specific beta-tubulin isotype may be either expressed de novo or enhanced under the transformation of pituitary acinar cells to tumors.

[Natural history for residual intracranial AVM: compared with that for conservatively treated AVM].

It is generally accepted that the most suitable treatment of AVM is surgical removal which does not cause neurological deficits. But in some cases, it is impossible to treat surgically because of size or location, so the patient is unfortunately discharged with some part of the nidus remaining. In this paper, we report the natural history of residual AVMs in which part of the nidus remained after initial therapy, and try to ascertain whether therapeutic reduction of the nidus is more effective in preventing intracranial hemorrhage than conservative treatment. Of 362 cases, residual AVMs were found in 35 cases, and were followed up for 9.2 years on average. Eighty cases treated with only conservative therapy were also followed up for 10.9 years on average. The annual risk of intracranial hemorrhage for residual AVMs was 2.9% and that for conservatively treated AVMs was 3.0%, not a significant difference. There was no difference between the two groups in mortality or ADL. We conclude that therapeutic reduction of the nidus was not effective in preventing intracranial hemorrhage.