Diffuse Liver Metastasis of Small-Cell Lung Cancer Presenting as Acute Liver Failure and Diagnosed by Transjugular Liver Biopsy: A Rare Case in Whom Nodular Lesions Were Detected by Enhanced CT Examination.

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a subgroup of lung cancer with a high frequency of liver metastasis, which is a predictor of poor prognosis. Diffuse liver metastases of SCLC with no visible nodular lesions in the liver when examined using computed tomography (CT) are relatively rare; however, a few cases with rapid progression to acute liver failure that were diagnosed after death have been reported. In this paper, we report a 63-year-old man with diffuse liver metastases of SCLC that were histologically diagnosed using a transjugular liver biopsy while the patient was alive, even though no lesions were visible during a contrast-enhanced CT examination.

Changes in the leukocyte distribution and surface expression of adhesion molecules induced by hypothalamic stimulation in the cat.

Emotions and the neuroendocrine system are known to affect leukocyte distribution. However, there have so far been few reports on the relationship between hypothalamically induced emotional behavior and the endocrine-immune response. We previously reported changes in the leukocyte distribution and adhesion molecules induced by anteromedial hypothalamus stimulation (AH stimulation), which elicits restlessness behaviors in the cat. In this study, we examined ventromedial hypothalamus stimulation (VMH stimulation), which elicits threat behaviors. In addition, the endocrine responses after VMH stimulation were evaluated. VMH stimulation as well as AH stimulation induced elevations of plasma cortisol and epinephrine levels and granulocytosis and lymphopenia. In contrast, VMH stimulation induced only an elevation of plasma norepinephrine and elicited an opposite pattern of CD62L expression on the leukocyte subpopulations. The different endocrine-immunological reactions between VMH stimulation and AH stimulation were thus associated with different types of behavioral responses.

Effects of hypothalamically elicited emotional behaviors on the plasma levels of estradiol and IGF-1.

We examined changes in the plasma levels of estradiol (E2), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), ACTH, cortisol and catecholamines accompanying various kinds of hypothalamically elicited emotional behaviors in female cats. The emotional behaviors consisting of restlessness, threat and searching-biting (S-B) were elicited intermittently for 6 h by electrical stimulation of the anterior hypothalamus (AH), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) and lateral hypothalamus (LH), respectively, in awake and free-moving conditions. The blood was sampled three times immediately before, 1 h after and 6 h after the start of stimulation. The plasma levels of ACTH, cortisol and catecholamines significantly increased in both restlessness and threat behaviors, whereas in the S-B behavior, the ACTH level significantly increased, while the cortisol level showed a slight nonsignificant increase. No changes were observed in the plasma catecholamine levels in the S-B behavior. The plasma E2 level significantly increased in threat behavior after 1 and 6 h of stimulation compared to the prestimulation levels, and the level also increased in comparison to the control group after 1 h. In contrast, the restlessness and S-B behaviors had little or no effect on the E2 level. No significant changes were observed in the plasma levels of IGF-1 in all behavior groups. These findings suggest that various hypothalamically elicited emotional behaviors have differential effects on the plasma E2, but not on the IGF-1 levels. Therefore, E2 and IGF-1 are regulated independently of each other.

Changes in the leukocyte distribution and surface expression of adhesion molecules accompanied with hypothalamically induced restlessness in the cat.

One type of emotional behavior called restlessness occurs when the anteromedial hypothalamus is stimulated in cats. We examined the changes in the distribution and surface expression of adhesion molecules in leukocytes accompanied with restlessness. Mature female cats were used for this study. The cats were stimulated with 60 Hz sine wave train pulses (20-90 microA, 10 s in duration, at 5-min intervals) for 60 min. Samples of blood were collected from 30 min before stimulation up to several hours after the final stimulation. The number of granulocytes increased just after stimulation, while at the same time the expression of L-selectin decreased. On the other hand, the number of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes decreased at 1-2 h after the end of the stimulation, while the expression of L-selectin increased. In addition, the expression of LFA-1 and VLA-4 did not change. These data suggest that hypothalamically elicited restlessness is thus accompanied by a leukocyte distribution change, which might be mediated by changes in the expression of L-selectin on leukocytes. Plasma cortisol increased during stimulation in restlessness. However, during in vitro culture experiments, cortisol did not alter the expression of leukocyte L-selectin which thus indicated that cortisol does not directly affect the surface expression of L-selectin. These results thus suggest that hypothalamically induced restlessness is a useful stress model for psychoneuroimmunological studies.

Effects of both the emotional behavior and feeding conditions on the circulating plasma volume and plasma glucose levels in cats.

Influence of hypothalamically induced emotional behavior on the circulating plasma volume, plasma levels of glucose, epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and cortisol were examined in awake cats under both fasted and fed conditions. Restlessness was evoked intermittently for 6 h by electrical stimulation of the anteromedial hypothalamus (AMH). Blood was sampled immediately before, 1 h after and 6 h after the start of stimulation. Changes in the plasma volume was calculated by changes of hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Ht). As the control group, another 7 cats with electrodes implanted but unstimulated were identically treated under both fasted and fed conditions. Both E and glucose levels in restlessness group once markedly increased after 1 h and then tended to decrease after 6 h, whereas NE levels in restlessness group increased after 1 h and further increased after 6 h, whether cats were fasted or fed. DA levels increased under the fasted condition of restlessness. The cortisol level markedly increased in both fasted and fed restlessness groups. The plasma volume in control group increased under the fed condition, while in restlessness group it decreased remarkably and tended to decrease more in a fasted state than in a fed state. These results indicated that AMH induced restlessness elicited marked sympatho-adrenal activation, hyperglycemia and hemoconcentration, whether cats were fasted or fed. Relationship among such responses, and the difference in responses between fasted and fed conditions were also discussed in the paper.

Laminin inhibits both Abeta40 and Abeta42 fibril formation but does not affect Abeta40 or Abeta42-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells.

Laminin has recently been reported to inhibit both Abeta40 and Abeta42 fibril formation in vitro. Laminin was thus suggested to be an effective therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease. However, some recent reports have shown that Abeta fibril formation may not necessarily be linked to the development of Abeta neurotoxicity. In the present study, we thus investigated whether or not laminin affects Abeta40 and Abeta42-induced neurotoxicity. The findings of the present study by using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) dye reduction test showed laminin not to have an inhibitory effect on Abeta40 or Abeta42-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells while Abeta fibril formation was inhibited under the conditions used in the present study. The findings of the present study therefore do not support the hypothesis that Abeta fibril formation is absolutely required for the development of Abeta cytotoxicity.

Effect of gentamycin on the melanosomes in the stria vascularis of the pigmented guinea pig: an ultrastructural study.

Melanosomes of the stria vascularis in gentamycin (GM)-intoxicated guinea pigs were examined ultrastructurally. Experimental animals were given GM sulfate intramuscularly in a daily adjusted dose of 100 mg/kg for 15 consecutive days (group A), and 150 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days (group B). Melanosomes of the intermediate cells in group B significantly increased in number in comparison with those in group A and the control group. Melanosomes in the apical turn outnumbered those in the basal turn in all three groups. Cytochemically, Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity was also demonstrated in the marginal cells. There was little difference in the degree of enzyme activity between groups A, B and the control group. The role and significance of melanosomes of the stria vascularis are discussed.

Subepithelial fiber components of the round window membrane of the guinea pig: an ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study.

Subepithelial fiber components of the round window membrane (RWM) of the guinea pig were studied by the following methods: transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with NaOH treatment, high-voltage electron microscopy (HVEM) and immunohistochemical staining. SEM observation revealed intersecting collagen fibers and a vascular network in the middle layer. TEM observation showed that at the attachment region to the bone fibroblasts, collagen fibers and elastic fibers were intermingled with each other, and mesenchymal cells (bone-lining cells) were scattered on the surface of the bone. The cytoplasmic processes of fibroblasts and bone-lining cells were connected by interdigitations. HVEM demonstrated that collagen fibers of the RWM were directly linked to the fibers of the bone matrix. Immunohistochemically, the middle layer was positive for antibody to type I collagen. Immunoreaction for fibronectin was also positive at the middle layer and most intense in the region attached to the bone. Thus, the RWM is securely attached to the bone by type I collagen fibers together with the bone-lining cells and fibroblasts.

Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical study of the subepithelial fiber component of the guinea pig inner ear.

The connective tissues of the lateral cochlear wall and semicircular canal of the guinea pig were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, intermediate voltage electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry. In the spiral ligament, numerous fibroblasts and fiber bundles were intermingled with each other. Fibroblasts and fibers were also observed in the semicircular canal. Ultrastructurally, immuno-gold particles, indicating the presence of type II collagen, were found on the fibers in the spiral ligament and the semicircular canals. The present results revealed that both stria vascularis and the membranous semicircular canal were supported by a network of fibroblasts and type II collagen fibers.

Effect of gentamycin on vestibular dark cells and melanocytes: an ultrastructural and cytochemical study.

Vestibular dark cells areas in gentamycin (GM)-intoxicated guinea pigs were examined ultrastructurally and cytochemically. After GM treatment the dark cells represented cytoplasmic vacuoles, wide intercellular space, less osmiophilic cytoplasm and irregularly shaped basal portions. Cytochemically, Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity was demonstrated on the basolateral folded plasma membranes of the dark cells similarly in both GM-intoxicated and control guinea pigs. These findings revealed that the dark cells still possessed a function of regulating the ionic composition of the endolymph, although they showed various structural changes. On the other hand, the melanocytes extended their cytoplasmic processes into the basement membrane and the intercellular space of the dark cells. Melanosomes markedly increased in number dose-dependently by GM treatment. The significance and the function of the melanocytes in the dark-cell areas are discussed.

Ultrastructure of nerve endings in the stapedius muscle of the squirrel monkey.

The stapedius muscle of the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) was studied electron microscopically with regard to neuromuscular junctions, muscle-tendon junctions and tendons. Two types of neuromuscular junctions were identified. The first type which was predominant in number showed well-developed primary and secondary synaptic clefts. They were almost the same with those of other mammalian skeletal muscles. The second type showed a flat-shaped junction with fewer secondary synaptic clefts. Muscle-tendon junctions were characterized by many interdigitations between the muscle fibers and tendon. The tendon was composed of collagen fibers, approximately 70-100 nm in diameter. Muscle spindles were not present, while nerve endings resembling the Golgi tendon organ were found adjacent to the tendon and the muscle-tendon junctions. These findings suggest that a feedback system may exist and regulate the fine contractile function of this muscle.

Development of the endolymphatic sac in chick embryos, with reference to the degradation of otoconia.

The endolymphatic sac of chick embryos (from embryonic day 7 to 1-day-old chicks) was studied light- and electron-microscopically. At stage 30-31 (embryonic day 7-7.5), the epithelial cells of the endolymphatic sac were cuboidal to columnar in shape. Microvilli were relatively well developed. The intercellular space was wide. In the endolymphatic space of the endolymphatic sac, varying shapes and sizes of otoconia-like bodies were often observed. Intracytoplasmic phagosomes containing these bodies were rarely found. After stage 37 (embryonic day 11), otoconia-like bodies in the endolymphatic sac decreased in number and size. They were almost the same as the otoconia in the macular organs, ultrastructurally. These findings indicate that the endolymphatic sac of the chick embryos may possess the function of otoconial degradation and removal of calcium from otoconia.