Hiroshi Satoh

Hashimoto's thyroiditis: history and future outlook.

Dr. Hakaru Hashimoto (Figure 1), born 5 May 1881, was the third son of a prominent family who had practiced medicine for generations in Iga Ueno, Mie Prefecture, Japan. He was one of the first graduates to receive a bachelor’s degree from the Fukuoka Medical College of Kyoto Imperial University in 1907. Hakaru Hashimoto received tutelage and training from Professor Miyake of the Department of Surgery of Fukuoka Medical College. Professor Miyake also instructed Dr. Hashimoto on the technique of assessing excised thyroid glands microscopically. In 1912, at the age of 30, Hakaru Hashimoto reported a distinct new disease in ‘Archiv fur Klinische Chirurgie”, a German journal of clinical surgery. His paper, which consisted of 30 pages and 5 illustrations and centered on histological changes in thyroid tissue, discussed the results of his examination of thyroid tissue samples taken from four women. Hakaru Hashimoto further explained in his report that the new pathological characteristics he had identified, namely infiltration of lymphoid and plasma cells, formation of lymphoid follicles with germinal centers, fibrosis, degenerated thyroid epithelial cells and leukocytes in the lumen, were histologically similar to those of Mikulicz’s disease. He expressed confidence that he had discovered a new disease, which he named “struma lymphomatosa”, emphasizing the lymphoid cell infiltration and formation of lymphoid follicles with germinal centers, neither of which had previously been reported.

Selective extraction and transport of UO22+ with calixarene-based uranophiles

Hexacarboxylate derivatives of p-t-butylcalix[6]arene (2b) and p-hexylcalix[6]arene (3b) extract uranyl ion (UO22+) efficiently and selectively from water into organic media. This high selectivity can be attributed to the nature of calix[6]arene; this is suitably structured for the binding of UO22+, which requires a pseudo-planar hexaco-ordination. When trioctylmethylammonium cation (TMA+) is added to the organic phase, the stoicheiometry of the extraction species [UO22+/(2b)] changes from 1:3 to 1:1–2. This implies that an additional 1–2 mol of UO22+ are adsorbed to (2b) to form ‘neutral’ extraction species and can be displaced by added TMA+. UO22+ is transported by (2b) across a liquid membrane from a neutral IN (source) aqueous phase (pH 8.5) to an acidic OUT (receiving) aqueous phase (0.1 mol dm–3 HCl) in an active transport manner. The rate-determining step is the release of UO22+ from the membrane to the OUT aqueous phase. On the basis of these basic data, we have prepared polymer/liquid-crystal (N-4′-ethoxybenzylidene-4-butylaniline, EBBA/TMA+Cl–) composite membranes immobilising (2b) and have found that the rate of UO22+ transport is efficiently controlled by the changes in pH and temperature. These are novel examples for the selective transport of UO22+.

Syntheses and aggregation properties of new water-soluble calixarenes

Eighteen water-soluble calixarenes have been synthesized and their aggregation properties in water studied. They are six anionic calixarenes (1n) having sulphonate groups on the upper rim, nine anionic calixarenes (2n) having sulphonate groups on the lower rim, and three cationic calixarenes (3n) having ammonium groups on the upper rim. On the basis of measurements of critical micelle concentrations (c.m.c.s.) by surface tension, conductance, and spectroscopic methods, it was concluded that the aggregation behaviour of these water-soluble calixarenes can be classified into three categories: (i) non-micellar calixarenes, (ii) micelle-forming calixarenes, and (iii) unimolecular micellar calixarenes. The possible structure-aggregation relationships are discussed.

New water-soluble calixarenes bearing sulphonate groups on the ‘lower rim’: the relation between calixarene shape and binding ability

Association constants have been determined for pyrene as a guest molecule for 9 water-soluble calix[n]arenes (n= 4, 6, and 8) bearing sulphonate groups on the ‘upper rim’(1) or on the ‘lower rim’(2). The results have established that calixarene (1) has a strong but non-selective binding site whereas calixarene (2) has a relatively weak but selective binding site.

DECONJUGATION OF BILIRUBIN ACCELERATES COPRECIPITATION OF CHOLESTEROL, FATTY ACIDS, AND MUCIN IN HUMAN BILE : IN VITRO STUDY

To examine the initial step of brown pigment gallstone formation, sterile human gallbladder bile samples were incubated with or without β-glucuronidase in vitro. Enhanced bilirubin deconjugation achieved by adding β-glucuronidase significantly accelerated the formation of a precipitate that contained bilirubin (28.2±3.8% of dry weight), cholesterol (14.3±5.2%), free fatty acids (12.0±1.3%), and glycoprotein (10.0±6.7%). Both the composition and scanning electron microscopic appearance of the precipitate were similar to these features in brown pigment gallstones. The cholesterol saturation index and nucleation time in the supernatant did not change with various incubation periods. The weight ratios of bilirubin to cholesterol in the precipitates correlated with those in bile (r=0.76;P=0.017). Gel chromatography of the precipitate showed high molecular weight glycoprotein to be the major constituent. Bilirubin, cholesterol, fatty acids, and mucin were found to coprecipitate in accordance with bilirubin deconjugation, which process may play an important role in an early stage of the formation of brown pigment gallstones.

A case of hepatocolic fistula after percutaneous drainage for a gas-containing pyogenic liver abscess.

We describe a rare of gas-containing pyogenic liver abscess which penetrated the adjacent colon, forming a hepatocolic fistula, after percutaneous transhepatic abscess drainage (PTAD) had been performed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of hepatocolic fistula associated with a gasforming liver abscess in a diabetic patient, with radiological and surgical confirmation of the fistula.

Michael additions of 1,2-dihydro-3H-indol-3-ones and some reactions of Michael adducts with ammonium acetate

Reactions of 1-acetyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-indol-3-one and 1-acetyl-2-methoxy-1,2-dihydro-3H-indol-3-one with ethylenic and acetylenic carbonyl compounds took place with Michael addition to give 1,3-di- and/or 1,2,3-tri-acylpropane compounds, respectively, which were elaborated to provide several kinds of heterocyclic compounds: carbazoles, oxaspiroindoles, a pyrano[3,2-b]indole, pyrroles and pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles.

Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma in familial adenomatous polyposis

Pancreatic carcinoma is rarely associated with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Ten patients with this association have been reported in the literature. However, detailed data were available in only a few cases. The first case of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma associated with FAP is reported. A 51-year-old man who had undergone total colectomy and ileoproctostomy for colonic polyposis 29 years previously was admitted with a cancer in the residual rectum. Preoperative examinations revealed a tumor in the head of the pancreas. Pancreaticoduodenectomy and very low anterior resection of the rectum were performed. Histologically, the tumor of the pancreas was acinar cell carcinoma. In patients with FAP, we recommend careful surveillance of not only the gastrointestinal tract but also of other organs such as those of the pancreaticobiliary system and the endocrine organs.