Extramedullary plasmacytoma producing biclonal gammopathy.

A case of extramedullary plasmacytoma presenting with biclonal gammopathy is reported. The patient was an 82-year-old man in whom monoclonal-protein (M-protein) was not noted during his first hospitalization. On his second hospitalization generalized lymph node swelling and biclonal gammopathy (IgG-kappa, IgA-kappa) were observed. Histological findings were compatible with those of extramedullary plasmacytoma. In the terminal stages, the patient became cachexic. The autopsy disclosed dissemination of the plasmacytoma. Only two other cases have been reported in the literature, and a review of these previous reports is included.

A case of malignant lymphoma accompanied by Klinefelter's syndrome.

A 66-year-old Japanese male with diffuse non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, of the pleomorphic type, complicated with Klinefelter's syndrome is reported. His phisique was characterized by a long arm span, disproportionately longer lower body dimensions and a small sized penis. He had no children. Chromosomal study revealed 47, XXY and hormonal quantification showed hypergonadtropic hypogonadism. Although chemotherapy was administered, his disease took a progressive course and he died. A discussion of chromosomal alteration and oncogenesis and review of the literature are included.

The effect of long term ethanol intake on the parotid gland in rats.

To elucidate the effects of long term ethanol intake on the parotid gland, light and electron microscopic observations of the parotid glands from male Wistar rats that had been given 20% ethanol ad lib instead of water were carried out. The findings were compared with the changes in the pancreas previously reported (Kakizaki et al. 1987). The results were as follows: (1) Severe lesions involving lobular units of the parotid gland were found in three rats exposed to ethanol. (2) From the early stages of ethanol ingestion, the lateral interdigitations of acinar cells widened irregularly. In the striated ducts, basal enfoldings became also irregular and short, while the mitochondria (which were a slender rod shape and arranged parallel to the basal enfoldings in control rats) became swollen, developed a dark matrix, a decrease in the cristae, and showed random arrangement. (3) Later, both tortous proliferation of the intercalated ducts and destruction as well as irregular lamination of the basal lamina of the striated ducts were observed frequently. (4) The animals developing severe morphological changes in the pancreas following ethanol ingestion were different from the animals developing severe changes in the parotid gland.

T-cell abnormalities in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: the presence of OKT4+8+ cells.

40 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were studied for T-cell abnormalities using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (McAbs). These patients showed a tendency to have a decreased OKT4+:OKT8+ ratio compared with normal subjects and a significant increase was observed in OKT10-positive cells in ITP patients. Further analyses were made utilizing McAbs of different subclasses in combination (BMA040 mouse IgG1 McAb, helper/inducer T and BMA081 mouse IgG2 McAb, suppressor/cytotoxic T). An increased proportion of cells reactive with both BMA040 and BMA081 McAbs (double-labelled cells) was demonstrated in patients with ITP compared with the normal controls. Furthermore, there was an inverse correlation between the proportion of "double-labelled cells" and the platelet counts. These data suggest that abnormalities of the T-cell subsets in the peripheral blood may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ITP.