Myota Miura

Malignant glomus tumor: a case report and review of the literature.

This report concerns a malignant glomus tumor, a rare soft tissue tumor that was examined immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally. It occurred in a 44-year-old male patient who had suffered from dull pain and stiffness in the right thigh for 10 months. Radiographic examination revealed a well-defined osteolytic lesion in the diaphysis of the right femur. Hypervascularity of the tumor was observed angiographically. Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance examinations showed an intramuscular mass invading the marrow space of the femur. Wide resection was performed after open biopsy. Histologically, round to polygonal tumor cells revealed a uniform appearance of round to ovoid nuclei with single large nucleoli and slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm, forming solid sheets of cells interrupted by vessels of varying size. A few mitotic figures and vascular invasion were observed. Immunohistochemically, vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin were stained intensely, and muscle actin was positive for tumor cells of the perivascular area. Tumor cells were negative for desmin, factor VIII-related antigen, S-100 protein, neurofilament, cytokeratin, and epithelial membrane antigen. Ultrastructurally, tumor cells were characterized by many cytoplasmic processes, pinocytotic vesicles, plasmalemmal dense plaques, and scattered microfilaments in the cytoplasm. Few cell junctions and focal basement membrane-like structures were observed. No recurrence or metastasis was noted 57 months after operation. This case was considered to be a malignant glomus tumor, that is, a glomangiosarcoma arising de novo.

Protective effects of Polygalae root in experimental TNBS-induced colitis in mice

In this study, the protective effect of Polygalae root was evaluated in a murine model of experimental colitis by intrarectal injection with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). Polygalae root, given orally at 2, 4 g/kg body weight of herbs once a day consecutively for 9 days, could recover the lost body weight and decrease the gross rectal bleeding. Polygalae root also reduced the degree of inflammation and improved significantly the histological changes such as infiltration by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and multiple erosive lesions. Furthermore, the cytokine production of intraepithelial lymphocytes was analyzed. The results showed that IFN-gamma was increased, but IL-4 was decreased in TNBS-induced colitis, when those were compared with the sham controls. But the administration of Polygalae root to TNBS-induced colitis mice showed lower production of IFN-gamma and higher production of IL-4 than the TNBS-induced colitis. These results suggest that the protective effects of Polygalae root against the TNBS colitis may be associated with the regulation of cytokine production of intraepithelial lymphocytes.

Ultrastructural Study of Antral G Cells in Patients with Duodenal Ulcer: Effect of Helicobacter pylori Eradication

It is established now that Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with exaggerated gastrin release to meals and other stimuli and that the abnormal secretion of gastrin is reversed after successful treatment of the infection. By comparing morphology of G cells from the same patients before and after treatment, we were able to investigate the ultrastructural effect of cure of H. pylori on G cells.

The combination therapy of Ephedra herb and Loxoprofen caused gastric lesions in mice.

The combination therapy of a Kampo formula and an analgesic-antipyretic agent is often used for the common cold in Japan. We investigated the effect of such a combination therapy, using the Ephedra herb, which is a common ingredient of Kakkon-to and Mao-to, and Loxoprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on fever induced in an experimental model of mice under strong stress. The combination therapy of Ephedra herb and Loxoprofen caused gastric mucosal lesions and loss of body weight. It is considered that this combination therapy should be avoided because of its adverse effects.

Evaluation of testicular microlithiasis in varicoceles

BackgroundTesticular microlithiasis is said to be characterized by calcific concretions within the seminiferous tubules. There have been reports suggesting a link between testicular microlithiasis and testicular dysfunction and tumors.MethodsIn this study we assessed subjects with varicoceles detected by using testicular ultrasound, and evaluated the cases of testicular microlithiasis in terms of age, seminalysis findings, and endocrinological parameters (testosterone, follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin (PRL)). The subjects comprised 224 patients with varicoceles diagnosed by using testicular ultrasound, who attended this institution as outpatients between January 1998 and August 2000.ResultsTesticular microlithiasis was detected in 15 out of 224 subjects (6.7%), bilateral in all cases. No significant differences were seen between the group with testicular microlithiasis and the group without testicular microlithiasis, in terms of age, seminalysis findings, and/or endocrinological parameters (testosterone, FSH, LH, prolactin). The incidence of testicular microlithiasis in outpatients undergoing testicular ultrasound varies between reports, but is of the order of 0.6–2.0%.ConclusionIn this study, we found a high proportion of testicular microlithiasis at 6.7%, strongly suggesting a link with male infertility.

Ultrastructural evaluation of apoptosis induced by Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric mucosa: The novel remarks on lamina propria mucosae

It has been considered that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a major cause of human gastritis and gastroduodenal ulcers (G-DU). Many investigations of the relationship between H. pylori and apoptosis have been reported recently. However, these studies focused mostly on epithelium, using the TUNEL method. In the present study, we evaluated by electron microscopy the occurrence of apoptosis in the mesenchymal cells of lamina propria mucosae infected with H. pylori. Gastric biopsy specimens from 37 H. pylori-infected G-DU patients and 8 noninfected volunteers were examined with both light and electron microscopy and analyzed by the TUNEL method. The TUNEL method showed no significant difference between H. pylori-infected and noninfected cases. In contrast, electron microscopy revealed significant numbers of apototic fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells in H. pylori-infected lamina propria mucosae, with a diminished number of collagen fibers in surrounding areas. These areas showed edematous changes histopathologically. These results indicated that H. pylori infection induces apoptosis of fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells in lamina propria, with decrease in the numbers of collagen fibers, suggesting that these alterations may be affected by exaggerate acid secretion, decrease mucus protecting factors, and result in ulcer formation.