Hitoshi Imanishi

Glutathione metabolism in red cell aging

Normal human red cells were centrifugally separated according to age by discontinuous density gradient of Percoll. Reduced glutathione (GSH), GSH stability and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity in fractionated red cells decreased with age, while oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and methemoglobin (MetHb) increased with age.

Detection of karyotypic abnormalities in most patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia by adding ethidium bromide to short-term cultures

A modified short-term culture method, in which cultured bone marrow cells were treated with ethidium bromide to prevent chromosome condensation was used to study the chromosomes of 70 patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. Clonal karyotypic abnormalities were detected in 60 patients. Among these, 35 patients showed one of recurrent type specific alterations. A close relationship between karyotypes and clinical outcome was shown: thus, t(8;21) or a single miscellaneous chromosomal defect associated with a favourable prognosis whereas t(9;11) or a complex karyotype related to a poor prognosis. The ten cytogenetically normal patients did not appear to have a favourable prognosis.

Reciprocal t(14;19)(q32.3;q13.1) in a patient with B-cell lymphoma

A patient with B-cell lymphoma with a chromosome rearrangement of t(14;19)(q32.3;q13.1) is reported. This patient had leukemic features and an aggressive clinical course. The histopathologic diagnosis was malignant lymphoma, small noncleaved cell. Chromosome analysis of the cells from a cervical lymph node and peripheral blood showed a reciprocal translocation between chromosome 14 with a break at band q32.3 and chromosome 19 with a break at band q13.1, to which the bcl-3 gene has been mapped. Monoclonal rearrangement of the JH gene was detected by Southern blot analysis. However, we could not detect rearrangement of the bcl-3 gene. This case also had a t(2;8)(q13;q24.1), but the c-myc gene remained in its germline. This is the first case with the reciprocal t(14;19) and 8q24 chromosomal breakpoint in a B-cell lymphoid malignancy.

Glutathione-linked enzyme activities in red cell aging

The enzyme activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), 6-phospho-gluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GR) were measured in normal human red cells separated centrifugally in a discontinuous density gradient of Percoll. Activities of G6PD, GSH-Px and GR decreased with red cell aging.

Induction of Heinz Body Formation by Sodium Dithionite

Incubation of normal erythrocytes with sodium dithionite resulted in the formation of Heinz bodies, but incubation with sodium metabisulfite did not. Addition f superoxide dismutase to the incubation medium increased the formation of Heinz bodies by sodium dithionite. Addition of catalase to suspensions of erythrocytes in the presence and absence of superoxide dismutase inhibited the formation of Heinz bodies. These findings indicate that hydrogen peroxide, not superoxide, is the active oxidant in Heinz body formation.

A case of blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome with coronary artery fistula to left ventricle

SummaryA 69-year-old female was admitted to the hospital because of tarry stool and dyspnea on exertion. Multiple hemangiomas were noticed on the tongue, right arm and abdomen. Gastrointestinal examination revealed multiple polypoid lesions in the stomach and small intestine. In addition, coronary artery-left ventricular fistula formation and pulmonary arteriovenous malformation were shown by angiography. Compared with other reported cases of blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome, the present case was unique because of the coronary artery-left ventricular fistula, heart failure and the familiar incidence of heart failure.