Hamartoma of the tongue: two case reports.

Hamartoma designates an excessive focal overgrowth of mature normal cells and tissues in an organ or tissue composed of identical cellular elements. Two cases of hamartoma at the back of the tongue are reported. Histologically they comprised fibrous tissue, fat, salivary gland lobules, and smooth muscle. The literature is reviewed and discussed.

[Clinical significance of erythrocyte ferritin].

Quantitative and qualitative evaluations of erythrocyte ferritin in 161 patients with RA and RAEB in MDS, AML, CML, PV, PA, HS, IDA, chronic liver disease and alcoholic liver disease were carried out. Mean erythrocyte ferritin levels of patients with RA, AML, PA, HS and alcoholic liver disease were increased compared with normal subjects. On isoelectric focusing analyses (IEF), erythrocyte ferritin in normal subjects were detected between pI 5.1 and 5.7. In the cases of RA, pI ranges of erythrocyte ferritin may be divided into three groups, acidic, neutral, basic shift on IEF respectively. In these groups, the more acidic the ferritin shift, the higher the proportion of morphological abnormalities of the erythroid precursors in the bone marrow was observed. In patients with AML (M2, M3, M4), little difference was found among these three subtypes, and all of the cases showed similar pattern with normal subjects on IEF. The ferritin from IDA showed low levels and slight basic shift compared with normal subjects on IEF, and these features were also found in patients with CML (chronic phase) and PV. After iron supplementation, marked increase of acidic ferritin was detected on IEF indicating an intermediate store for iron destined for haem synthesis. It was clear that the stainable iron in liver parenchymal cells were found at erythrocyte ferritin concentration 20 ag/cell or over in patients with chronic liver disease. Measurement of erythrocyte ferritin concentration is a helpful method for evaluating iron deposition in hepatocyte non-invasively. From these results it is considered that quantitative and qualitative analyses of erythrocyte ferritin are very useful for evaluating erythropoiesis as well as iron metabolism.

[Postoperative electroencephalographic change in old patients with cardiac surgery].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cerebral dysfunction in aged patients associated with cardiac surgery using quantitative electroencephalograph (QEEG). Seventeen consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery were investigated. There were nine males and eight females whose ages ranged from 65 to 77 years (mean 70.6 years). The cardiac procedures consisted primarily of coronary artery bypass (eleven patients) and valve replacement (six patients). They had good postoperative course, no complications were recognized. Each patient had an EEG examination using digital EEG equipment in first day before operation. Follow up investigations were repeated three times (first day, fifth day and one month after operation). QEEG analysis consisted of fast Fourier transform method was performed in each record. A fall in the peak frequency at basic rhythm was seen in 1st and 5th postoperative day. A power spectra corresponding to slow wave showed an increase at parieto-occipital area in 1st and 5th postoperative day. Alpha activity at occipital area was increased in one month after operation. The EEG change in first or fifth postoperative day suggested the patients had cerebral dysfunction without clinical findings.

[Longitudinal assessment of hematological parameters in the elderly].

Red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin level (Hb), hematocrit value (Ht), and white blood cell count (WBC) were determined periodically in 499 subjects (274 males, 225 females) aged 60 and over. RBC, Hb, and Ht showed a significant decrease after 5 years in both younger (60-64) and older (65 and over) male groups, and in the female groups except for the Hb level in the older group. Comparison between the younger and older group (cross-sectional study), revealed that the older male group showed lower levels of RBC, Hb, Ht than the younger male group, but the situation was completely the reverse in the females. No significant age-related changes were observed in WBC, but it was significantly higher in both the younger and older male groups than in the female groups. A significant decline with age was observed in both male and female MCV values. On the contrary, from a cross-sectional standpoint, the MCV values in the older female group were higher than those in the younger group. These findings revealed a completely reverse outcome in some parameters, when studied longitudinally and cross-sectionally. Therefore, the data should be evaluated longitudinally to elucidate the real effect of aging. It is pertinent to apply the WHO criteria (male 13 g/dl, female 12 g/dl) to the diagnosis of anemia of elderly people.

[Anemia in the elderly].

We measured red blood cell counts, hemoglobin levels, hematocrit values, serum iron levels, total iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation, and serum ferritin levels in 364 elderly subjects in the eighth decade, who consisted of 283 subjects (171 males, 112 females) living in their own homes and 81 subjects (28 males, 53 females) living in an old-age home. The mean values of RBC, Hb, Ht, SI, s-Ft in both male and female subjects living in their own homes were 469 X 10(4)/microliters vs 439 X 10(4)/microliters, 14.6 g/dl vs 13.3 g/dl 44.3% vs 40.6%, 95.6 micrograms/dl vs 84.8 micrograms/dl, 50.2 ng/ml vs 42.6 ng/ml, respectively. On the other hand, the mean values of RBC, Hb, Ht, SI, s-Ft in both male and female subjects living in an old-age home were 421 X 10(4)/microliters vs 390 X 10(4)/microliters, 13.8 g/dl vs 12.6 g/dl, 39.9% vs 36.7%, 74.2 micrograms/dl vs 58.6 micrograms/dl, 98.8 ng/ml vs 69.1 ng/ml, respectively. All erythrocyte parameters were significantly lower in females than in males in both groups, and significantly lower in subjects living in an old-age home than in subjects living in their own homes. The erythrocyte parameters of subjects living in their own homes showed little difference compared with those of normal young adults. These results suggest that a sedentary lifestyle in the elderly people contribute to the tendency to have anemia and this is considered to relate to age-associated pathology such as inflammation. As anemia in elderly people often follows a underlying illness, we must always give attention to the factors which cause anemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Quantitative and qualitative studies of red cell ferritin in refractory anemia of myelodysplastic syndrome.

The red cell ferritin (rFt) level in 10 patients with refractory anemia (RA) was measured and analyzed by column isoelectric focusing (IEF). The levels in 9 of the 10 patients (90.0%) were higher than the upper limit in healthy controls (MV +/- SD: male 14.3 +/- 10.3 ag/cell, female 7.5 +/- 3.6 ag/cell). The isoelectric point (pI) of rFt determined by IEF in healthy subjects ranged from 5.1 to 5.7. However, the pI ranges for RA patients varied widely; the pI value was thought to correlate with the severity of the morphological abnormalities of bone marrow (BM) erythroblasts. That is, the greater the proportion of morphologically abnormal erythroblasts with respect to all erythroid precursors, the lower the pI range for rFt. The rFt content was not related to serum iron, transferrin saturation, serum ferritin, reticulocyte count, red cell iron content, or BM erythroblast count. These data suggest that rFt synthesis in RA patients is influenced by factor(s) other than iron; this is considered an essential feature of erythropoiesis in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Human tail and other abnormalities of the lumbosacrococcygeal region relating to tethered cord syndrome.

The author describes 2 instances of surgical exploration and treatment of human tail, which he believes is important in relieving tethered cord syndrome. Simple excision of human tail or other suspicious abnormalities may prevent the diagnosis and important early treatment of tethered cord syndrome.

Lymphangioma of the parotid gland.

Parotid gland tumors in infancy and childhood are rarely seen and infrequently documented. Among them, hemangioendothelioma and mixed tumors are the most common. Parotid lymphangioma is very rare. This report presents a case of parotid lymphangioma and discusses the clinical, gross, and histological features, differential diagnosis, and treatment.

Induction of cocklebur seed germination by anaerobiosis: A question about the "inhibitor hypothesis" of seed dormancy.

Germination of non-dormant small cocklebur (Xanthium pennsylvanicum Wallr.) seeds was improved by immersing them in water, suggesting that during their germination endogenous germination inhibitors are leached out. However, the same effect could be obtained by the quasi-anaerobic pre-incubation of the seeds. When seeds were fully imbibed, moreover, water immersion could no longer potentiate them to germinate, and only anaerobiosis increased the germination potential, thus raising a question against the "inhibitor hypothesis" of seed dormancy.

Teratoid tumor in the oral cavity.

A case of teratoid tumor of the oral cavity in the newborn is presented. It consisted of fibrous tissue, bone, and tooth buds, and was successfully managed by surgical resection.

Two C2H 4-producing systems in cocklebur seeds.

C2H4 production of the embryonic axes and cotyledons excised from dormant and non-dormant cocklebur (Xanthium pennsylvanicum Wallr.) seeds was examined in relation to ambient O2 tensions. There were two kinds of C2H4-producing systems, quasi-anaerobic and aerobic, in both organs. Regardless of the organ, the former activity was high in the dormant state and, particularly in axes, declined with after-ripening. On the other hand, the latter activity was almost insignificant in the dormant state, but increased with release from dormancy and the non-dormant axes exclusively produced C2H4 through this system. In the cotyledons, however, the former was still predominant even after they were fully after-ripened. Thus, the C2H4-producing systems were different in the seed organ and in the dormancy state.

Saponins from Amaranthus hypochondriacus.

Four triterpenoid saponins were isolated from Amaranthus hypochondriacus which are grain crops in the Nepal, Mexico and South America. Their structures were elucidated based on spectral evidence to be: (1) 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1----3)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-2 beta,3 beta-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester. (2) 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1----3)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-2 beta,3 beta- dihydroxyolean-12-en-23-al-28-oic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester; (3) 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1----3)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-2 beta, 3 beta-dihydroxy-30-norolean-12,20(29)-dien-28-oic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester. (4) 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1----3)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-2 beta, 3 beta-dihydroxy-30-norolean-12, 20(29)-dien-23-al-28-oic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester.

[Effect of platonin on bone wound healing in rat calvaria--with special reference to the interaction of platonin and steroid hormones].

Interaction of Platonin (PI) and dexamethasone (DM) or testosterone propionate (TP) on bone wound healing was studied by measuring the areas of wound holes which were made in the rat parietal bone. The result was compared with that of the growth of the femur. 1) No significant difference was observed between the control group and pl groups (1, 10 and 100 micrograms/kg, s.c., for 4 weeks) on the wound hole area or the length, weight, calcium content (Ca) or hydroxyproline content (HP) in the femur. 2) The bone wound healing was delayed by DM (2 mg/kg, s.c., for the first 2 weeks). The inhibition of growth was also observed in the femur length and weight, but no significant effect of DM was observed in the Ca and HP of the femur. The combination of Pl and DM promoted the recovery from delayed bone wound healing and femur weight gain caused by DM. 3) No significant effects of TP (4 mg/kg, s.c., for the first 2 weeks) were observed on the wound healing and the femur growth, but an increase of the femur weight and Ca was observed by the combination of Pl and TP. These results indicate that Pl promotes the recovery from delayed bone wound healing and femur weight gain by DM, although no significant effects were observed in bone growth and bone wound healing by the administration of Pl alone. It is also suggested that a combination of Pl and TP promotes bone growth and mineralization.