Giant Cell Lesions of the Jaws:A Review and Comparative Histopathological Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Giant cell lesions (GCLs) are rare lesions which prominently feature multinucleated giant cells in their histology. They include central giant cell granuloma (CGCG), giant cell tumour of bone (GCT), peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG), Cherubism (CHB), e.t.c. This study reviewed the clinico-demographic parameters of GCLs of the jaws and assessed the giant cells. METHODS: This was a retrospective study examining the histopathology records of which part of the body of two tertiary institutions. All entries of cases diagnosed as GCLs were retrieved and data were extracted. Also, the giant cells in tissue sections were assessed. Data were analysed using SPSS Inc. version 20 while Chi square test was used to test for association. This was considered significant quand p < 0.05. RESULTS: Over the study period, 2,862 biopsy reports were reviewed. GCLs constituted 48(1.7%) and M: F ratio was 1:1.6 while majority occurred in the 2nd and 3rd decades. The mandible was the most common site recording 27(56.3%) cases and CGCG was the most frequently diagnosed GCL constituting 22(45.8%). Assessment of the giant cells revealed CGCG had predominantly large giant cells, a dense dispersal of giant cells and irregularly shaped giant cells, while CHB mainly had large giant cells with dense dispersal, but round shaped giant cells. CONCLUSION: GCLs are rare lesions commonly seen in females in the 2nd and 3rd decades of life with preference for the mandible. CGCG was the most commonly encountered lesion, while the giant cells in CGCG and CHB were similar in size as well as dispersal.

An artificial impact on the asteroid (162173) Ryugu formed a crater in the gravity-dominated regime.

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft investigated the small asteroid Ryugu, which has a rubble-pile structure. We describe an impact experiment on Ryugu using Hayabusa2's Small Carry-on Impactor. The impact produced an artificial crater with a diameter >10 meters, which has a semicircular shape, an elevated rim, and a central pit. Images of the impact and resulting ejecta were recorded by the Deployable CAMera 3 for >8 minutes, showing the growth of an ejecta curtain (the outer edge of the ejecta) and deposition of ejecta onto the surface. The ejecta curtain was asymmetric and heterogeneous and it never fully detached from the surface. The crater formed in the gravity-dominated regime; in other words, crater growth was limited by gravity not surface strength. We discuss implications for Ryugu's surface age.

Images from the surface of asteroid Ryugu show rocks similar to carbonaceous chondrite meteorites.

The near-Earth asteroid (162173) Ryugu is a 900-m-diameter dark object expected to contain primordial material from the solar nebula. The Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout (MASCOT) landed on Ryugu's surface on 3 October 2018. We present images from the MASCOT camera (MASCam) taken during the descent and while on the surface. The surface is covered by decimeter- to meter-sized rocks, with no deposits of fine-grained material. Rocks appear either bright, with smooth faces and sharp edges, or dark, with a cauliflower-like, crumbly surface. Close-up images of a rock of the latter type reveal a dark matrix with small, bright, spectrally different inclusions, implying that it did not experience extensive aqueous alteration. The inclusions appear similar to those in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites.

Physicochemical and catalytic properties of thermostable malate dehydrogenase from an extreme thermophile Thermus flavus AT-62.

Physicochemical and catalytic properties of thermostable malate dehydrogenase (L-malate:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.37), isolated from an extreme thermophile, Thermus flavus AT-62, were studied. The enzyme had a molecular weight of 67,000 and consisted of two subunits with an identical molecular weight. The helical content of the enzyme was estimated to be about 25% from the circular dichroism spectrum. The amino acid composition of the thermophilic enzyme was similar to that of its mesophilic counterparts. Titration with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) showed that the enzyme contained only one sulfhydryl group per subunit. Substrate inhibition by oxaloacetate was observed. The inhibition decreased with increasing temperature, but was still significant at 60 degrees C. The enzyme was remarkably heat stable, without losing activity after incubation at 90 degrees C for 60 min. The melting temperature of the secondary structure of the enzyme was 96 degrees C.

In vivo roles of donor and host dendritic cells in allogeneic immune response: cluster formation with host proliferating T cells.

Possible roles of dendritic cells (DCs) in allogeneic immune responses in host lymphoid tissues were characterized in situ by using rat DC transfer and cardiac transplantation models. When allogeneic DCs were intravenously injected, these cells selectively migrated to the T-cell area of hepatic lymph nodes, with peak accumulation at 18 h after injection. Donor DCs and proliferating host T cells formed clusters (rosettes) in which the T-cell proliferative response started. The donor DCs were CD80(+) CD86(+) and, ultrastructurally, were in intimate contact with lymphoblasts within the rosettes. As a novel finding, some of the migrated donor DCs were quickly phagocytosed by putative host interdigitating DCS: By 48 h, the remaining donor DCs had disintegrated within the rosettes. Host interdigitating DCs also formed rosettes throughout the T-cell area, and their kinetics correlated well with that of the T-cell proliferation. In the cardiac allograft model, a few donor DCs selectively migrated to the host spleen and hepatic nodes. Rosette formation by donor and host DCs, phagocytosis of donor DCs, and the T-cell proliferative response occurred in much the same fashion as they did in the first experiment. We conclude that the donor rosettes at the early stage represent the sites of direct allosensitization and those at the late stage represent donor-DC killing. Host rosettes are the sites of T-cell proliferation. In this structure, phagocytosed donor-DC-derived antigens are presumably indirectly presented.

Assessment of vasoactive agents and vascular aging by the second derivative of photoplethysmogram waveform.

To evaluate the clinical application of the second derivative of the fingertip photoplethysmogram waveform, we performed drug administration studies (study 1) and epidemiological studies (study 2). In study 1, ascending aortic pressure was recorded simultaneously with the fingertip photoplethysmogram and its second derivative in 39 patients with a mean+/-SD age of 54+/-11 years. The augmentation index was defined as the ratio of the height of the late systolic peak to that of the early systolic peak in the pulse. The second derivative consists of an a, b, c, and d wave in systole and an e wave in diastole. Ascending aortic pressure increased after injection of 2.5 microg angiotensin from 126/74 to 160/91 mm Hg and decreased after 0.3 mg sublingual nitroglycerin to 111/73 mm Hg. The d/a, the ratio of the height of the d wave to that of the a wave, decreased after angiotensin from -0.40+/-0.13 to -0.62+/-0.19 and increased after nitroglycerin to -0.25+/-0.12 (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). The negative d/a increased with increases in plethysmographic and ascending aortic augmentation indices (r=0.79, P<0.001, and r=0.80, P<0.001, respectively). The negative d/a reflects the late systolic pressure augmentation in the ascending aorta and may be useful for noninvasive evaluation of the effects of vasoactive agents. In study 2, the second derivative of the plethysmogram waveform was measured in a total of 600 subjects (50 men and 50 women in each decade from the 3rd to the 8th) in our health assessment center. The b/a ratio increased with age, and c/a, d/a, and e/a ratios decreased with age. Thus, the second derivative aging index was defined as b-c-d-e/a. The second derivative wave aging index (y) increased with age (x) (r=0.80, P<0.001, y=0.023x-1.515). The second derivative aging index was higher in 126 subjects with any history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and ischemic heart disease than in age-matched subjects without such a history (-0.06+/-0.36 versus -0.22+/-0.41, P<0.01). Women had a higher aging index than men (P<0.01). The b-c-d-e/a ratio may be useful for evaluation of vascular aging and for screening of arteriosclerotic disease.

Trafficking of host- and donor-derived dendritic cells in rat cardiac transplantation: allosensitization in the spleen and hepatic nodes.

BACKGROUND: Kinetics and role of host and donor dendritic cells (DCs) in transplantation immunity are still ill-defined. Using a rat cardiac transplantation model, we studied DC trafficking and sites for allosensitization. METHODS: Host and donor DCs were defined as host- or donor-type class II major histocompatibility complex antigen single-positive cells by double-immunostaining. Proliferative response of both donor and host cells were also analyzed. RESULTS: Host DCs were recruited to the graft soon after transplantation. These cells represented definitive precursors because of high labeling index by a continuous bromodeoxyuridine infusion, their small round shape, and their putative bone marrow origin. Donor interstitial DCs showed a significant self-replicating capability. Both recruited host DCs in a regraft experiment and donor DCs preferentially performed blood-borne migration to the T-cell area of host spleen. Furthermore, they also migrated to the T-cell area of hepatic lymph nodes after executing the sinusoids-lymph translocation as a novel pathway for these DCs. Selectively at their migration sites, a strong T-cell proliferative response occurred, which preceded that in the graft tissues. Removal of spleen and hepatic lymph nodes significantly prolonged the mean graft survival time. CONCLUSION: We conclude that allogeneic heart transplantation induces the recruitment of host DC precursors to the graft tissues and the blood-borne migration of both recruited host and donor DCs to the host spleen and hepatic nodes where effector cells are predominantly sensitized.

Treatment of ulcerative colitis with germinated barley foodstuff feeding: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Germinated barley foodstuff (GBF) has been shown to attenuate intestinal injury in animal models, largely by increasing luminal short-chain fatty acid production. AIM: To investigate the safety and efficacy of GBF in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: Ten patients with active UC received 30 g of GBF daily for 4 weeks in an open-label treatment protocol while the baseline anti-inflammatory therapy was continued. The response to treatment was evaluated clinically and endoscopically. Pre- and post-treatment stool concentrations of short-chain fatty acids were measured by gas-liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Patients showed improvement in their clinical activity index scores, with a significant decrease in the score from 6.9+/-1.4 to 2.8+/-1.5 (mean+/-S.E.M., P < 0.05). The endoscopic index score fell from 6.1+/-2.3 to 3.8+/-2.3 (P < 0.0001). Patients showed an increase in stool butyrate concentrations after GBF treatment (P < 0.05). No side-effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Oral GBF therapy may have a place in management of ulcerative colitis, but controlled studies are needed to demonstrate its efficacy in the treatment of this disorder.

Studies on NADP-+-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase from an extreme thermophile, Thermus flavus AT-62.

1. NADP-+-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase [EC 1.1.1.42] was partially purified by about 440-fold from an extreme thermophile, Thermus flavus AT-62. 2. Remarkable thermostability of the enzyme was confirmed. The enzyme was not inactivated after 60 min at 70 degrees, and the activity was lost only slowly at 80 degrees. Above 90 degrees, however, rapid inactivation was observed. 3. The dehydrogenase was susceptible to concerted inhibition by oxaloacetate plus glyoxylate. In the presence of oxaloacetate plus glyoxylate (each 1 mM), 75 percent inhibition was observed. 4. The degree of inhibition of the enzyme by oxaloacetate plus glyoxylate decreased markedly above 60 degrees. The affinity of the enzyme for isocitrate and NADP-+ was also reduced markedly above 60 degrees. The activation energy calculated from Arrhenius plots below and above 60 degrees were 14,500 and 8,000 cal per mole, respectively. These observations suggest a possible conformation change of the enzyme protein at a transition temperature of 60 degrees, and the physiological significance of this in the adaptation of thermophiles to elevated temperatures is discussed.

Reversible denaturation of thermophilic malate dehydrogenase by guanidine hydrochloride and acid.

Thermophilic malate dehydrogenase [L-malate:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.37] was denatured at pH 2.0 with complete loss of enzyme activity but without dissociation to monomers, suggesting the presence of strong intersubunit contact. On the other hand, the enzyme was completely denatured and dissociated to monomers in the presence of 5 M GdnHCl. Inactivation and denaturation of the enzyme by acid and GdnHCl were reversible. Upon dilution of the denaturants, the inactivated enzyme regained enzyme activity and the native structure with high yield (80-90%). Kinetic analyses of reactivation of the enzyme denatured by GdnHCl and by acid revealed that the reaction obeyed first-order kinetics. The rate constant and Arrhenius activation energy of the reactivation of the acid-inactivated enzyme were almost the same as those of the enzyme inactivated by GdnHCl. These results suggest that the rate-limiting steps in the reactivation processes of the enzyme denatured by GdnHCl and by acid are the same and that a conformational change of the inactive dimer to active dimer is the rate-limiting step in the reactivation reaction.

Construction of a gyrA-gyrB-carrying plasmid overproducing functional DNA gyrase.

A plasmid carrying both gyrA and gyrB genes (pTS7) and a plasmid without the gyr gene (pTS4) were constructed. Introduction of pTS7 into the YK1100 (wild-type) cells resulted in an increase in the level of gyrA and gyrB mRNA by 5- to 6-fold over the level of the control transformant with pTS4. In the transformant cells carrying pTS7, the reporter plasmid pGP241, which is compatible with pTS plasmids, was significantly more highly negatively supercoiled than in the transformant with pTS4. The activity of DNA gyrase to supercoil the relaxed pGP241 DNA was 4-8 times higher with the S-30 extract from the transformant carrying pTS7 than with the extract from the transformant with pTS4.

Characterization of an essential histidine residue in thermophilic malate dehydrogenase.

Heat-stable malate dehydrogenase isolated from Thermus flavus AT62 was completely inactivated by treatment with diethylpyrocarbonate. The inactivation was accompanied by the loss of 1.2 histidine residues per subunit of the enzyme. The enzyme was protected from inactivation by NADH. The enzyme was also inactivated by dye-sensitized photooxidation. Methionine residues, in addition to histidine residues, were destroyed in the inactivated enzyme. Kinetic analyses of the inactivation indicated that the pK value of the residue involved in the inactivation was 8.20 at 25.0 degrees C and 7.52 at 60.0 degrees C. From the pK values and the heat of ionization calculated from the van't Hoff plot of pKs, a histidine residue was identified to be primarily involved in the inactivation. The effect of temperature on the pK value of the essential group in this enzyme from a thermophilic organism is discussed.

Germinated barley foodstuff increases fecal volume and butyrate production in humans.

Germinated barley foodstuff (GBF), derived from the aleurone layer, scutellum and germ of germinated barley, contains a large quantity of fermentable dietary fibers, especially hemicellulose. Ten grams of GBF were given to 10 healthy volunteers 3 times a day (30 g/day/person) for 28 consecutive days. Fecal weight, water contents and short chain fatty acid content were measured before GBF administration and from days 25 to 28 after initiation of GBF administration. GBF intake significantly increased fecal butyrate content as well as fecal weight and water content. No significant change in body weight resulted from consumption of GBF for 28 days. No major laboratory abnormalities were found in hematologic and urinary analysis. These findings indicate that GBF promotes defecation, produces bacterial short chain fatty acids, especially butyrate, without adverse effects, and is a safe foodstuff for humans.

Preventive effects of germinated barley foodstuff on methotrexate-induced enteritis in rats.

The preventive effects of the dietary germinated barley foodstuff (GBF), which increases the contents of protein, RNA and DNA in the intestinal mucosa of rats on the mucosal damage and diarrhea were examined in a methotrexate (MTX)-induced enteritis model in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats intraperitoneally injected with MTX (10 mg/kg body weight) were used as an enteritis model. After consumption of diets containing GBF, glutamine or a glutamine-rich stuff (gluten), mucosal damage, contents of mucosal protein, RNA and DNA, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, bacterial translocation and DNA synthetic activity in the small intestine were assessed. GBF more effectively prevented diarrhea and mucosal damages, and increased mucosal protein, DNA and RNA contents than glutamine or gluten. The bacterial trans-location and elevation of MPO activity induced by MTX were depressed only by the consumption of GBF. GBF has a potential as therapeutic diet to decrease the adverse effects of anti-cancer chemotherapy.

Germinated barley foodstuff increases fecal volume and butyrate production at relatively low doses and relieves constipation in humans.

Germinated barley foodstuff (GBF), derived from the aleurone layer, scutellum and germ of germinated barley, contains a large quantity of fermentable dietary fibers, especially hemicellulose. GBF was given to 9 healthy volunteers in a dose of 9 g of GBF per day for 10 consecutive days, and subsequently 18 g of GBF for another 10 days. As a control, no GBF was given for 3 days before administration of GBF (control period). Fecal weight, water content and short chain fatty acid content were measured before and during the last 3 days of each experimental period. Feeding of GBF significantly increased the fecal butyrate content as well as fecal weight at both dose-levels (9 and 18 g/day), compared with those during the control period. Daily administration of 9 g GBF induced the maximum level of defecation in humans. Relatively mild but chronic constipated volunteers (n = 16) were administered 9 g of GBF daily for 14 days. In this experiment, the condition of defecation (frequency, volume) was estimated by a questionnaire survey. GBF significantly improved defecation within a short period without severe adverse effects. No major abnormalities in laboratory findings were found in hematologic and urinary analyses. In conclusion, daily administration of 9 g GBF was effective for improving defecation in healthy but constipated humans. GBF is a highly safe and effective foodstuff for improving defecation.

Increased growth of Bifidobacterium and Eubacterium by germinated barley foodstuff, accompanied by enhanced butyrate production in healthy volunteers.

Germinated barley foodstuff (GBF) derived from the aleurone and scutellum fractions of germinated barley mainly consists of low-lignified hemicellulose and glutamine-rich protein. GBF improves the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells and defecation, through the bacterial production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA), especially butyrate. In this study we investigated the mechanism of production of butyrate by microflora in humans and in vitro. Daily administration of 9 g GBF for 14 successive days significantly increased fecal butyrate content. Fecal Bifidobacterium and Eubacterium were also significantly increased by GBF administration in healthy volunteers. Ten anaerobic micro-organisms selected from intestinal microflora were cultured in vitro in the medium containing GBF as a sole carbon source (GBF medium). After a 3-day incubation, 7 strains (Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei, Bacteroides ovatus, Clostridium butyricum, and Eubacterium limosum) lowered the medium pH producing SCFA. Eubacterium grown together with Bifidobacterium in GBF medium efficiently produced butyrate. On the other hand, GBF changed the intestinal microflora and increased probiotics such as Bifidobacterium in the intestinal tract. As a result, butyrate was produced by the mutual action of Eubacterium and Bifidobacterium. This butyrate is considered to enhance the proliferation of colonic epithelial cells.

Identification of Mulberry Dwarf Phytoplasmas in the Genital Organs and Eggs of Leafhopper Hishimonoides sellatiformis.

ABSTRACT The presence of mulberry dwarf (MD) phytoplasmas in organs of the inoculative vector insects Hishimonoides sellatiformis and Hishimonus sellatus was determined by means of electron microscopy (EM) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Many MD phytoplasmas were detected in genital organs as well as in the intestines, salivary glands, brains, fat bodies, and thoracic ganglia of Hishimonoides sellatiformis, but only in the intestine and salivary glands of Hishimonus sellatus. Many phytoplasmas with characteristic morphology were observed via EM in ovaries, seminal receptacles, and testes, and they were further identified by PCR assays with group I-specific primers. In addition, the organisms were detected by direct or nested PCR assays in eggs (head pigmentation stage of embryos) laid on mulberry shoots by inoculative leafhoppers and in the newly hatched nymphs from these eggs. These findings indicate that transovarial transmission of MD phytoplasmas occurs in Hishimonoides sellatiformis.

Production of D-lyxose from D-glucose by microbial and enzymatic reactions.

D-arabitol was first prepared from D-glucose using Candida famata R28. The reaction gave 5.0% D-arabitol from 10.0% D-glucose. D-arabitol was then almost completely converted to D-xylulose using Acetobacter aceti IFO 3281. Finally, D-lyxose was prepared from D-xylulose enzymatically using L-ribose isomerase from toluene-treated cells of Acinetobacter sp. strain DL-28. The isomerization reaction progressed steadily and the concentration of D-xylulose increased from 1.0 to 10.0%. About 70% of D-xylulose was converted to D-lyxose in all cases. Separation of residual D-xylulose from the reaction mixture is very difficult to achieve by column chromatography, but D-xylulose could be selectively degraded easily using Saccharomyces cerevisiae IFO 0841. The product was crystallized and was confirmed to be D-lyxose by HPLC, 13C-NMR spectra, IR spectra analysis, and optical rotation measurement.

Quantification of X-ray opacity of the maxillary sinus in the Waters' view.

Plain X-ray filming such as that in the Waters' view is a simple and inexpensive method used in daily practice to briefly evaluate the severity of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. The maxillary sinus is the largest and simplest in shape among all sinuses and is usually clearly observed on a film in the Waters' view. We attempted to obtain a quantitative index of the X-ray opacity of the maxillary sinus using X-ray films in the Waters' view. A copper wedge was placed to the left side of the subject's face and was filmed simultaneously. The X-ray film was digitized with an image digitizer. The X-ray density of each pixel was then converted to an absolute value for the copper thickness with a medical image processor. The mean pixel value in the region of interest at the maxillary sinus (M(R)) and that at the ipsilateral orbit (O) were determined. The difference, M(R) - O, was found to have a significant correlation with the average visual grading of the severity of inflammation of the maxillary sinus by 10 otolaryngologists. Thus M(R) - O Can serve as an objective measure of the X-ray opacity of the maxillary sinus. The use of this index during the follow-up period is advisable, especially in children, because of greatly reduced amount of X-ray exposure compared with that in computed tomography.

Chronic otitis media and tympanoplasty in aged patients.

Results of tympanoplasty in patients over 60 years old were analyzed mainly in terms of hearing and postoperative course. Tympanoplasty was carried out in 78 ears of 67 patients during the last ten years. The following types of tympanoplasty were employed: type I in 34 ears, type III-Columella in 23 ears, type IV-Columella in 13 ears, and other types in 8 ears. The results were compared to those of 145 ears from 119 patients ranging from 20 to 59 years of age who had undergone tympanoplasty during the last 3 years. In tympanoplasty type I, closure of the air-bone gap within 20 dB was attained in 70% of the patients over 60 years old, 90% in the 50-59 year age group, and 100% in the 20-49 year age group. In type III-Columella, these values were 60, 78, and 94%, respectively. During the postoperative follow-up, perforation of the eardrum recurred in 5 of 78 ears (6.4%) in the patients over 60, in 5 of 52 ears (9.6%) in the 50-59 year group, and in 7 of 93 ears (7.5%) in the 20-49 year group. These results suggested that hearing results were worse in patients over 60 than in the other age groups, even though the incidence of graft failure did not greatly differ by age.