Masako Mizoguchi

Immunologic derangement in myotonic dystrophy: Abnormal contact sensitization to dinitrochlorobenzene

A broad spectrum of immunologic parameters was investigated in 13 cases of myotonic muscular dystrophy (MyD), including those for cellular immunity which has attracted little attention in the past. One was a 46-year-old woman having both MyD and a thymoma. This association between MyD and thymoma is probably coincidental without biologic significance. There was no evidence of malignancy in the remaining 12 patients. The delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction to dinitrochlorobenzene was anergic in 3 patients and showed impaired positive reactivity in 3 patients, as compared with no failure of response in normal adults or children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. A high proportion of patients with MyD displayed positive tuberculin reactions, as did controls. Our case of MyD with a thymoma showed marked lymphocytopenia in peripheral blood, but the number of lymphocytes in peripheral blood in the remaining 12 patients was normal. Uptake of tritiated thymidine by lymphocytes in the presence of phytohemagglutinin was normal. Serum gammaglobulin was reduced in 4 patients with MyD. The mean value of serum immunoglobulin level was decreased only in the class of IgG. A wider derangement of immunologic function may occur in MyD than was previously recognized.

CELL KINETIC STUDIES OF THE EFFECT OF VARIOUS KINDS OF CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC AGENTS ON A HUMAN MELANOMA CELL LINE (SEKI, II)

The cell cycle phase distribution of a human malignant melanoma cell line (SEKI, II) exposed to various chemotherapeutic agents was investigated by flow‐cytometry. The accumulation effect on the radiosensitive G2 and M phases was nearly 100% in the vincristine 0.1 μg/ml group, 75.2% in the ACNU 5 μg/ml group, and 53.1 % in the pepleomycin 1 μg/ml group, respectively. The groups treated with adriamycin (1 μg/ml and 10 μg/ml) or prednisolone (10 μg/ml) were not significantly different from the control group. It is suggested that vincristine, ACNU and pepleomycin may be useful for synchronization radiation therapy.

CELL KINETIC STUDIES OF THE EFFECT OF DTIC COMBINED WITH FLUORESCENT LIGHT OR UVA IRRADIATION ON HUMAN MELANOMA CELL LINE (SEKI, II)

The effectiveness of DTIC (5‐(3.3‐dimethyl‐1‐triazeno) imidazole‐4‐carboxamide) against a human malignant melanoma cell line (SEKI, II) was investigated with the additional use of fluorescent light and long wave ultraviolet irradiation. The cell cycle phase distribution of cultured melanoma cells exposed to DTIC (10 μg/ml, 100 μg/ml) was analyzed by means of flow‐cytometry (ICP type 11). The cytostatic effect of DTIC was observed at a concentration higher than 10 μg/ml in standard culture. Remarkable enhancement of the effect of DTIC was observed in both fluorescent light and ultraviolet irradiation. The most prominent change in cell cycle phase occurred in the group treated with DTIC 100 μg/ml with fluorescent light. S phase prolongation was shown in early stages (6, 12 hours), and then G2M phase accumulation was observed in late stages (48 hours). In ultraviolet irradiation groups, enhancement of the cytocidal effect of DTIC was observed 12 hours after irradiation. The death of all of the cells was observed in the DTIC 10 μg/ml + UVA 3 joules/cm2 and the DTIC 100 μg/ml + UVA 1 joule/cm2 groups. DTIC with UVA irradiation may be used for the treatment of cutaneous malignant tumors.

Atypical tyrosinase positive albinos.

Using light and electron microscopy, we studied five cases of tyrosinase positive albinism, with special reference to melanization of the hair‐bulbs before and after incubation with L‐tyrosine. Electron microscopic autoradiographs of the hair‐bulbs after incubation with 3H‐L‐tyrosine were also investigated. As a result, it was found that three cases could be categorized as ordinary tyrosinase positive albinos, but the other two could not. It was concluded that tyrosinase positive albinism might not be a homogeneous disease, but a disease which can be divided into several subclasses.

ULTRASTRUCTURAL OBSERVATIONS OF FUNGAL ELEMENTS IN TRICHOPHYTON RUBRUM GRANULOMA

We observed fungal elements in Trichophyton rubrum granuloma ultrastructurally. Three types of fungal elements could be distinguished in relation to the phagocytes, namely (1) fungal elements existing freely in the exudate, (2) fungal elements attached to the phagocytes or just ingested into the phagocytes, (3) fungal elements digested in the phagocytes.

CELL KINETIC STUDIES OF THE EFFECT OF 8-METHOXYPSORALEN WITH LONG WAVE ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATION ON HUMAN MELANOMA CELL LINE (SEKI, II)

The growth inhibition and cell cycle phase distribution of a human malignant melanoma cell line (SEKI, II) treated with 8‐methoxypsoralen (8MOP) and UVA irradiation (PUVA) were investigated in vitro. A growth inhibition effect was observed in 8 methoxypsoralen (8MOP) 0.1 μg/ml + UVA 1 J/cm2 group, and a strong cytocidal effect was noted in the 8MOP 1 μg/ml + UVA 3 J/cm2 groups. Continued accumulation was observed at 24 to 72 hours in the following phases: G2M phase in the 8MOP 0.1 μg/ml + UVA 1 J/cm2 group; middle S phase in the 8MOP 0.1 μg/ml + UVA 3 J/cm2 group; and early S phase in the 8MOP 1 μg/ml + UVA 1 J/cm2 group. It appeared that 8MOP with UVA irradiation acts mainly on the S phase to block the cell cycle progression between the S and G2M phases. The variation of cell cycle phase distribution under the effect of 8MOP with UVA irradiation was similar to that observed with the alkylating agent, ACNU, suggesting a possible similarity of the mechanism of action between them. The reaction in the dark was vital for the onset of action of 8MOP with UVA irradiation; as is the case for DTIC with UVA irradiation (32).

Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris

毛孔性紅色粃糠疹の4例を報告した。1例は小児例で肘頭, 膝蓋, 手掌, 足蹠などに比較的限局性の皮疹を有する症例であり, 他の3例は成人例で汎発化, 紅皮症化の傾向がみられた。また, 最近10年間の毛孔性紅色粃糠疹の学会報告例50例を自験例4例に加えて, 若干の文献的考察を行なつた。