[A case of thymoma and hypogammaglobulinemia (Good's syndrome) with lichen planus].

A 72-year-old patient was admitted to our hospital because of painful tongue and loss of taste. A mediastinal mass on X-ray of the chest had been seen for 30 years, however no symptom was developed. Lichen planus was seen in his oral cavity. Hematological test showed decrease of all classes of immunoglobulin. CT and MRI of the chest showed a huge mediastinal mass. Needle biopsy was performed, giving rise to the diagnosis of thymoma with hypogammaglobulinemia (Good's syndrome). Intravenous immunoglobulin infusion, which is known to be effective to chronic diarrhea of this syndrome, improved his diarrhea. Lichen planus may be caused by T cell abnormality as suggested previously. Resection of the thymoma was not performed, since it does not improve hypogammaglobulinemia. This is a rare case of Good's syndrome with lichen planus.

Different effects of cyclic AMP and butyrate on eosinophilic differentiation, apoptosis and bcl-2 expression of a human eosinophilic leukemia cell line, EoL-1.

A human eosinophilic leukemia cell line, EoL-1, stopped proliferating at the G1 phase, differentiated into eosinophilic granule-containing cells, and died by apoptosis when stimulated with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP). To clarify the effects of dbcAMP, the effects of butyrate and cAMP-increasing reagents, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and forskolin, on EoL-1 cellular differentiation and apoptosis were examined and compared. PGE2 and forskolin but not butyrate induced differentiation to eosinophilic granule-containing cells, suggesting that cAMP played a primary role in eosinophilic differentiation of EoL-1 cells. PGE2, forskolin and butyrate, when used alone, did not induce apoptosis of EoL-1 cells significantly at the concentrations used, but sequential stimulation of EoL-1 cells with the cAMP-increasing reagents and butyrate showed that butyrate induced further maturation and apoptosis of cAMP-induced eosinophilic granule-containing cells. These results showed that cAMP and butyrate have different effects on eosinophilic differentiation and apoptosis of EoL-1 cells. The cAMP-increasing reagents and butyrate also showed different effects on expression of members of the bcl-2 family; PGE2 decreased bcl-2 and bax levels, whereas butyrate increased the bcl-2 level. PGE2 or PGE2+butyrate, but not butyrate alone, induced bcl-XS expression. EoL-1 cells constitutively expressed Fas and anti-Fas antibody induced EoL-1 cell death, but the Fas/Fas ligand system was not involved in dbcAMP-induced EoL-1 cell apoptosis. The EoL-1 cell line is thus a useful model in which to examine differentiation and apoptosis of eosinophilic leukemia cells.

Computer games and information-processing skills.

To assess the association of past use of computer games and parallel-processing skills as measured by tests of discrimination perception using computers 46 boys and girls in kindergarten, aged 4 to 6 years, were classified into 17 player and 17 nonplayer groups by their enthusiasm for computer games. There were no significant differences between the two groups in correct responses; however, RTs of players were significantly faster than those of nonplayers. RTs were different to color and shape. Experiences with computer games might develop information-processing skills.