Acanthotic type of eccrine poroma on the arm: report of a case.

A 72-year-old Japanese man with eccrine poroma on the arm is described. To the best of our knowledge, he is the fifth patient with this tumor on the arm reported from Japan. The histopathological type of the tumor of our patient was unique because it was acanthotic; those of the previous patients were all of the intradermal type.

Angiosarcoma which developed on the abdominal wall: report of a case.

We report a 68-year-old Japanese woman with angiosarcoma (AS) on the abdominal wall. To the best of our knowledge, she is the third such patient reported from Japan.

Effect of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine on the microcirculation of rat skin.

1. The effects of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, on the microcirculation of rat dorsal skin were studied to examine the role of NO in the regulation of regional haemodynamics. 2. The blood volume in the skin microcirculation, which was continuously measured by reflectance spectrophotometry, was significantly decreased in response to L-NMMA (10 mg/kg bodyweight, i.v.), suggesting vasoconstriction, and the response continued for more than 20 min. In contrast, the increase in systemic blood pressure (BP) disappeared soon after administration of L-NMMA. 3. These results show that L-NMMA elicits long-lasting responses in the skin microcirculation, whereas the systemic BP rapidly recovers, suggesting a large contribution of the NO system to the regulation of rat skin microcirculation.

Kaposi's varicelliform eruption in a patient with mycosis fungoides.

A 39-year-old Japanese woman suffering from plaque stage of mycosis fungoides (MF) developed Kaposi's varicelliform eruption (KVE) on her face. KVE appeared 1 month after commencing skin electron beam irradiation (SEBI), when the total irradiation had reached 46 Gy. Natural killer (NK) cell activity in the peripheral blood was abnormally low, but returned to normal after 1 year. However, lymphocyte reactivity to mitogens was persistently low. These facts suggested that the KVE in our patient developed because of abnormally low NK cell reactivity probably induced by radiation therapy.

Prurigo nodularis associated with advanced gastric cancer: report of a case.

In a male Japanese patient, prurigo nodularis (PN) appeared in association with gastric cancer. The cutaneous pruriginous lesions dramatically improved soon after total gastrectomy without any treatment for the skin lesions. Peripheral eosinophilia seen before the operation also rapidly disappeared. These data suggest that some cytokines involved in gastric cancer might have played an important role in the development of PN in our patient.

A case of tick bite from Amblyomma testudinarium on the glans penis.

A tick which bit the glans penis of a 40-year-old Japanese man was surgically excised together with the skin where the bite occurred. It was identified as Amblyomma testudinarium through the taxonomical investigation of its morphological characteristics. To our best knowledge, our patient is the sixth tick bite from this species of tick recorded in the Chugoku District of Japan.

In vitro and in vivo activities of the benzoxazinorifamycin KRM-1648 against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The in vitro and in vivo activities of a new benzoxazinorifamycin, KRM-1648 (KRM), against Mycobacterium tuberculosis were studied. The MIC at which 50% of the isolates are inhibited (MIC50) and the MIC90 of KRM for 30 fresh isolates of M. tuberculosis measured by the BACTEC 460 TB System were 0.016 and 2 micrograms/ml, respectively. These values were much lower than those for rifampin (RMP), which were 4 and >128 micrograms/ml, respectively, and considerably lower than those for rifabutin (RBT), which were 0.125 and 8 micrograms/ml, respectively. A correlational analysis of the MICs of these drugs for the clinical isolates revealed the presence of cross-resistance of the organisms to KRM and either RMP or RBT although the MICs of KRM were distributed over a much lower range than were those of the other two drugs. KRM and RMP at concentrations of 1 to 10 micrograms/ml almost completely inhibited the bacterial growth of RMP-sensitive strains (H37Rv, Kurono, and Fujii) of M. tuberculosis phagocytosed in macrophage-derived J774.1 cells. KRM was more active than RMP in inhibiting the growth of the RMP-resistant (MIC = 8 micrograms/ml) Kurata strain but failed to show such an effect against the RMP-resistant (MIC >128 micrograms/ml) Watanabe stain. When KRM was given to M. tuberculosis-infected mice at dosages of 5 to 20 mg/kg of body weight by gavage, one daily six times per week from day 1 after infection, it was much more efficacious than RMP against infections induced in mice by the RMP-sensitive Kurono strain, as measured by a reduction of rates of mortality, a reduction of the frequency and extent of gross lung lesions, histopathological changes in lung tissues, and a decrease in the bacterial loads in the lungs and spleens of infected mice. KRM also displayed significant therapeutic efficacy against infection induced by the RMP-resistant Kurata strain, while neither KRM nor RMP was efficacious against infection by the RMP-resistant Watanabe strain. In the case of infection with the Kurono strain, the efficacy of the drugs in prolonging the time of survival was in the order KRM, RBT, RMP. KRM was much more efficacious than RMP, when given at 1- to 4-week intervals. These findings suggest that KRM may be useful for the clinical treatment of tuberculosis contracted through RMP-sensitive strains, even when it is administered at long intervals.

Detection of arginine-ADP-ribosylated protein using recombinant ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolase.

We made use of ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolase to detect arginine-ADP- ribosylated proteins. The hydrolase was expressed in Escherichia coli as a protein fused with glutathione S-transferase (GST). The fusion protein GST-ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolase catalyzed the hydrolysis of alpha-ADP-ribosylarginine to produce ADP-ribose and arginine. Casein ADP-ribosylated with [32P]NAD and chicken heterophil arginine-specific ADP-ribosyltransferase served as a substrate for the recombinant ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolase and the released ADP-ribose was determined. Protein ADP-ribosylated by cholera toxin could serve as substrate of the hydrolase but protein ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin, diphtheria toxin, or C(3) enzyme of Clostridium botulinum could not. The hydrolase did not release the radioactivity incorporated into isolated rat liver nuclei incubated with [(32)P]NAD or in bovine brain cytosol incubated with [(32)P]ADP-ribose. In homogenate of mouse heart which contained arginine-specific ADP-ribosyltransferase, labeling of a 55-kDa protein by incubation with [(32)P]NAD was removed by ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolase treatment; hence, the specific hydrolysis of ADP-ribose-arginine bond by GST-ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolase can be used to detect the arginine-ADP-ribosylated proteins in crude preparations. Arginine--ADP-ribosylated proteins in crude preparations. Arginine-ADP-ribosylated proteins in mouse spleen lymphocytes were identified using this method.

Opaque eyes developed in transgenic mice with T-cell receptor delta gene.

PURPOSE: During the generation of transgenic mice (TGs) introduced with mouse T-cell receptor delta (TCR delta) gene, the authors found a TG line with corneal opacity that coincided with the presence of the transgene. The authors investigated the pathogenesis and molecular mechanisms of this corneal opacity in this line. METHODS: The pathologic features and pathogenesis of the corneal opacity in TGs were examined histologically using transmission and scanning electron microscopy, as well as light microscopy. DNA and RNA blot analyses were performed to examine the copy number and the expression of the transgenes, respectively. RESULTS: Histologically, edema of the corneal epithelium and adhesion of the iris to the cornea were observed in adult TGs. In the developmental analysis, the authors first observed relative hypoplasia of the ciliary body on day 18 of gestation and dysgenesis of the anterior chamber angle from postnatal day 2. Corneal opacity was observed from postnatal day 8, coinciding with the histologic vesicular change of the epithelium. No inflammation was observed through its life. In the sublines that have different copy numbers of the transgene, the occurrence of the opacity depended on the copy number of the transgene. Expression of the transgene in the thymus was consistent with the number of the introduced transgene. CONCLUSION: In a TCR delta TG line, the overexpression of transgenes coincided with abnormal development of the ocular anterior segment and the corneal opacity. Pathogenesis is described, and possible molecular mechanisms are discussed.

Trichilemmal carcinoma on the thigh: report of a case.

A 79-year-old Japanese man with a trichilemmal carcinoma (TC) on the right thigh is described. To the best of our knowledge, he is the fifth patient with a TC on the thigh reported from Japan.

Hair fibrous protein compositions in some hereditary hair abnormalities determined by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

S-carboxymethylated (SCM) fibrous proteins (FPs) from the scalp hairs of the three different hereditary hair abnormalities (trichorrhexis invaginata in Netherton's syndrome, pili trianguli et canaliculi in uncombable hair syndrome, and fine hair in anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia) were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Comparison of the SCM FP compositions of the three hair abnormalities with that of the normal revealed that the SCM FP compositions of these three abnormal hairs were all electrophoretically different from each other and that of the normal.

Tinea corporis due to Trichophyton verrucosum: report of a patient from the San'in District.

A 70-year-old Japanese housewife, a resident of Shimane Prefecture, developed an erythematous, annular skin lesion on her right forearm. Mycological examinations revealed that it was tinea corporis caused by Trichophyton verrucosum (T. verrucosum). This fungus was then shown to have been transmitted to her from young dairy cattle introduced from the Hokkaido District to the ranch of her son. To the best of our knowledge, she is the first reported patient with tinea due to T. verrucosum who was infected in the San'in District.

Assessment of production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) by cultured human vascular endothelial cells based on its anti-aggregatory effect on human platelets.

In order to establish an experimental system to assess the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) by cultured human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs), the effect of endothelial cells on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation was examined. Cultured HUVECs were harvested from umbilical veins by collagenase treatment. The platelet aggregation experiments were performed using cuvettes lined with HUVECs. The cuvettes were prepared by seeding HUVECs in gelatin-coated cuvettes at a cell density of 2 x 10(5) cells/ml and culturing for 48 hours. Thrombin-induced platelet aggregation was inhibited in the presence of HUVECs. This HUVEC-dependent anti-platelet aggregatory effect was enhanced by the addition of bradykinin, which stimulates the production of EDRF, and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation was completely inhibited. Indomethacin reduced the HUVEC-dependent anti-platelet aggregatory effect. These findings suggest that this simple, new experimental system is useful in assessing the production of EDRF by HUVECs and in examining the effects of various chemicals (or agents) on EDRF production.

Mycosis fungoides with Leser-Trélat sign: the first report of a patient from Japan.

We describe here a 35-year-old Japanese woman with mycosis fungoides (MF) who developed numerous, rapidly-growing, seborrheic keratoses on the front of her neck and chest. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of MF with Leser-Trélat sign from Japan.

Vortex-mixing-induced inactivation of arginine-specific ADP-ribosyltransferase activity and re-activation of the less-active form by dithiothreitol plus NaCl under anaerobic conditions.

We observed dilution/vortex-mixing-induced inactivation of arginine-specific ADP-ribosyltransferase purified from chicken peripheral polymorphonuclear granulocytes (heterophils) and re-activation of the less active form by dithiothreitol plus NaCl, under anaerobic conditions. The vortex-mixing-induced inactivation of the diluted enzyme was rapid; more than 85% of the enzyme activity was lost with 1-min vortex-mixing at room temperature. When the less-active form of the enzyme was treated with 10 mM dithiothreitol plus 0.2 M NaCl, under anaerobic conditions, more than 50% of the enzyme activity was restored. Putative mechanisms of the vortex-mixing-induced inactivation and dithiothreitol/NaCl-dependent re-activation of the arginine-specific ADP-ribosyltransferase are discussed.

Black dot ringworm: the first report of a patient from the San'in District.

A 77-year-old Japanese woman, a resident of Shimane Prefecture, with black dot ringworm caused by a Trichophyton glabrum infection on the scalp is described. To the best of our knowledge, she is the first case of BDR reported from the San'in District.

Ringworm-like cutaneous candidiasis: report of a case of localized type.

A 52-year-old Japanese female patient with ringworm-like cutaneous candidiasis on the right axillary area is described. It appeared to have developed in relationship to previous local steroid therapy in this area for a long time.

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia on the penis: report of a case.

An 82-year-old Japanese man with intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia on the penis is described. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient who developed this tumor on his penis.

Spectrophotometric study of alpha-adrenoceptors affecting microcirculation of rat skin.

1. To determine the alpha-adrenergic receptor subtypes that affect the microcirculation of skin, the relative absorption (RA) spectra of the skin on the backs of rats were measured using reflectance spectrophotometric methods. We injected alpha-adrenergic agonists, noradrenaline (NA), phenylephrine (PE) and clonidine (CL), intravenously and determined changes in the RA value at 569 nm, one of the isosbestic points of the oxyhaemoglobin and deoxyhaemoglobin absorption. 2. NA reduced the RA value and the reduction was inhibited significantly by pretreatment with phenoxybenzamine (PBZ; P < 0.01). These findings suggested that the haemoglobin content in the skin tissue decreased as a result of vasoconstriction through alpha-adrenoceptors. 3. NA, PE and CL produced dose-dependent reductions in RA. CL and NA produced virtually equipotent reductions except at the highest dose used. PE produced smaller effects. The potency of these drugs in terms of changes in RA did not correlate with their potency in terms of rises in systemic blood pressure (NA > PE > or = CL). 4. Yohimbine (YO) inhibited the NA-induced reduction in RA to a greater degree than bunazosin (BU). Midaglizole, a specific alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist, significantly and dose dependently inhibited the NA-induced reduction in RA. 5. Although BU inhibited NA-induced reduction in RA only slightly, the effect was significant (P < 0.05). BU significantly inhibited PE-induced reduction (P < 0.01), but did not inhibit CL-induced reduction. 6. These observations suggest that the microcirculation of the skin of the rat is affected mainly by alpha 2-adrenoceptor mediated vasoconstriction. However, alpha 1-adrenoceptor mediated vasoconstriction also has some effect.

Real-time measurement of microcirculation of skin by reflectance spectrophotometry.

A reflectance spectrophotometric measurement was developed to analyze the microcirculation of the skin in real time. The relative absorption (RA) spectra were obtained from skin tissue 10 times per second using a spectro-multi-channel-photodetector system. In this system, white light was projected onto the skin of the back of the anesthetized rat and the spectrum of the reflected light between 450 and 643 nm was analyzed. Two absorption peaks at wavelengths of about 540 and 577 nm were observed, corresponding to the absorption peaks in the oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) spectrum. Either phlebotomy or the i.v. injection of norepinephrine (NE) reduced the RA spectrum. Peaks of the reduction in spectrum [(RA spectrum before the treatment) - (RA spectrum after the treatment)] were observed at about 540 and 577 nm. Injection of NE (0.75-48 ng/100 g B.W., i.v.) reduced the RA value at 577 nm dose-dependently, suggesting a decrease in the skin blood flow due to vasoconstriction. In addition, the content of HbO2 and capillary permeation were measured at the same time after the i.v. injection of Evans blue (EB) dye. As indices of HbO2 content and capillary permeation, RA changes at 540 and 610 nm (the latter is an absorption peak in the EB spectrum) were measured in real time, respectively. Both RA values increased dose-dependently after the intradermal injection of histamine (0.3-100 micrograms/site), suggesting the presence of vasodilation and an increase in permeability. The time at which the RA value for HbO2 reached a maximum was shorter than that for EB. These observations suggest that the method described here can detect changes in the HbO2 content and permeation of skin microcirculation at the same time, and in real time.