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Frazil ice in the coastal polynyas has been increasingly recognized as important for efficient sea ice production, associated dense water formation, transport of particulate matter and consequent biological production. However, it has not been well understood where and to what degree active‐frazil areas occur in the Northern Hemisphere polynyas. We presented the first mapping of active frazil in the Northern Hemisphere, using sea ice data during September–May for 2002/2003–2010/2011, created from an Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth Observing System thin ice algorithm that can detect active frazil areas. The North Water, Northeast Water, Anadyr, and St. Lawrence Island polynyas were found to have a relatively high occurrence rate of active frazil compared with other polynyas. We improved the estimation of sea ice production by discriminating between active frazil and thin solid ice and found that previous algorithms tended to overestimate sea ice production, particularly for polynyas dominated by thin solid ice such as the Okhotsk Northwestern polynya. We also made the first global comparison of polynya characteristics for all the major coastal polynyas. The annual ice production rate is 3–4 m yr−1 in the Northern Hemisphere polynyas and 6–9 m yr−1 in the Antarctic coastal polynyas. This large difference is mainly explained by the less frequent occurrence of active frazil and thin ice areas in the Northern Hemisphere polynyas owing to a lower occurrence of strong wind events. Plain Language Summary: Coastal polynyas, which are high‐latitude coastal regions of thin ice or open water surrounded by thick sea ice, are important components of the global climate system. High production of sea ice in coastal polynyas generates dense water, which then influences physical and biological processes in the surrounding regions. Thin ice areas in a polynya are roughly classified into two ice types: active frazil, a mixture of grease/frazil ice and open water formed under turbulent conditions, and thin solid ice, a relatively uniform thin ice region formed under calm conditions. In this study, we focused on measuring the active frazil, which indicates areas of efficient ice production. Frazil ice also incorporates and transports sediments or micro‐nutrients, possibly leading high biological productivity. We presented the first mapping of active‐frazil areas in the Northern Hemisphere, and improved estimates of total ice production taking account of the ice type. We also discussed the characteristics of major coastal polynyas in the world. The rates of ice production and active frazil occurrence are generally lower in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Antarctic coastal polynyas because of lower wind speeds in the Northern Hemisphere high‐latitude coastal regions. Key Points: The active frazil area in the Northern Hemisphere is mapped for the first time, with improved estimation of sea ice productionSeveral coastal polynyas with a high occurrence rate of active frazil and high ice production rate are extractedThe ice production rate in Northern Hemisphere polynyas is generally lower than in Antarctic polynyas owing to fewer strong wind events [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven profiling floats equipped with oxygen sensors deployed in the Sea of Okhotsk provide time series data for 33 cases of spring phytoplankton bloom period, including 9 cases in which sea ice existed just before the bloom (prior‐ice case). As an index of biological productivity, we calculated net community production (NCP) based on the increasing oxygen rate using the Redfield ratio. The total NCP in the euphotic layer averaged for prior‐ice cases is 31.3 mmolC m−2 day−1), ∼3 times higher than that of non‐ice cases. In addition to intensification of surface stratification, other factors of sea‐ice melt likely enhance the bloom. The influence of sea‐ice melt is particularly large in the southwestern region, where the iron availability likely limits phytoplankton growth. A suggested scenario is that when the sea ice containing sediment/iron is transported from the northern shelves, a prominent bloom is induced via the iron supply by sea‐ice melt. Plain Language Summary: The seasonal ice zone is a high biological productivity area with a large spring phytoplankton bloom. The enhanced biological production results in significant CO2 uptake, which could play an important role in carbon budget. However, understanding of high biological productivity in seasonal ice zones is poor due to limited observations. This study examines the spring bloom in and around the Sea of Okhotsk, a typical seasonal ice zone, using profiling floats equipped with oxygen sensors. Based on the rate of oxygen increase for 30 cases of the spring bloom period, we estimated NCP as a quantitative indicator of biological production and CO2 uptake. It is statistically shown that a large spring bloom, corresponding to high NCP, is strongly related to sea‐ice melt. The cause is suggested to be sediments/iron released from melting sea ice as well as enhancement of stratification and light availability. This study will also provide the first attempt to evaluate the impact of significant sea ice decline in the Sea of Okhotsk on the carbon budget in the present and future. Key Points: Profiling floats equipped with oxygen sensors observed 30 cases of spring phytoplankton bloom in and around the Sea of Okhotsk, seasonal ice zoneTotal net community production estimated in the euphotic layer in cases where sea ice existed is much higher than that of no ice casesIn addition to the intensification of surface stratification, sediment/iron released from melting sea ice likely enhances the spring bloom [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of the area of active frazil and associated high sea‐ice production in Antarctic coastal polynyas has been increasingly recognized in recent in situ and high‐resolution satellite observations. However, the occurrence and spatial distribution of active‐frazil area are not well understood. We present the first mapping of active‐frazil area for Antarctic coastal polynyas, based on the thin ice algorithm of AMSR‐E that discriminates active‐frazil area. Mapping of sea‐ice production is presented by taking account of active‐frazil area. Active‐frazil area is predominant along East Antarctica, particularly very close to the coast, locally leading to very high ice‐production rates exceeding 20 m/yr. For frazil‐dominant polynyas, estimated ice production is ∼20%–50% higher compared with previous studies. Analyses of all the major polynyas suggest that active‐frazil extent depends on offshore wind and air temperature, while ice production is determined by offshore wind only. Plain Language Summary: Antarctic coastal polynyas, thin ice or open water areas, are regarded as sea‐ice production factories. Cold and saline water rejection by high ice production generates dense water, some of which is transformed into the Antarctic Bottom Water, a key player in global thermohaline circulation. A polynya area is roughly classified into two ice types: thin solid ice area, which is a nearly uniform thin ice‐covered area, and active‐frazil area, which is a mixture of frazil/grease ice and open water formed by turbulent conditions. Although the active‐frazil area has very high ice production, its high ice production has not been considered in previous ice‐production estimates. In this study, we map active‐frazil area and estimate ice production incorporating active frazil for Antarctic coastal polynyas for the first time, using an improved algorithm of satellite passive microwaves. Active‐frazil area and associated ice production are found to be determined mostly by offshore wind, which explains the predominance of active frazil and high ice production in the east Antarctic coastal polynyas with strong offshore wind. Key Points: Mapping of active‐frazil area in Antarctic coastal polynyas is presented for the first time, using an improved passive microwave algorithmSea‐ice production is estimated for Antarctic coastal polynyas by accounting for active‐frazil ice productionActive‐frazil area and ice production strongly depend on offshore wind, which explains their predominance around East Antarctica [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HRS-like cells widely expressed CD80 and CD86, suggesting that CD28-CD80/CD86 interaction is important in the constitutive activation of HTLV-1 infected CD4 SP + sp T cells in Hodgkin-like ATLL. Here, we performed DSP and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to elucidate the interaction between CD30 SP + sp HRS-like cells and CD4 SP + sp T cells in patients with Hodgkin-like ATLL. B Introduction: b Hodgkin-like adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a rare subtype of ATLL harboring CD30 SP + sp Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS)-like cells and small to medium CD4 SP + sp T cells infected with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1), which mimics classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) histologically. [Extracted from the article]

An abstract for the article "Prenatal demonstration of distal right coronary artery in normal and growth-restricted fetuses: a plausible sign of heart-sparing effect?" by S. Miyashita and others is presented.

Aims The study aimed to investigate arterial stiffness in subjects with normal glucose tolerance. Methods BMI, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, lipid variables, ankle-brachial pressure index and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity were measured in 2059 subjects from Takasaki city, located approximately 100 km north of Tokyo in Japan. Following a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, only subjects with normal glucose tolerance were selected. Results One-hour post-challenge plasma glucose levels were correlated with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity values ( r = 0.340, P < 0.0001). When subjects with normal glucose tolerance were divided into three groups-group 1 (1-h plasma glucose < 8.56 mmol/l, n = 1595), group 2 (1-h plasma glucose ≥ 8.56 and < 10.17 mmol/l, n = 334) and group 3 (1-h plasma glucose ≥ 10.17 mmol/l, n = 130)-the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity of group 3 (1473 ± 322 cm/s) was significantly higher than that of group 2 (1355 ± 252 cm/s) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity of group 2 was also significantly higher than that of group 1 (1275 ± 212 cm/s). Conclusions We have identified that, in normal glucose tolerance, arterial stiffness is advanced in subjects with higher 1-h post-challenge plasma glucose in spite of the normal range for BMI, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and lipid variables. Higher 1-h plasma glucose level is a risk factor for arterial stiffness in normal glucose tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 142 samples of plants showing symptoms of Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) were collected from fields planted to Brassicaceae and non-Brassicaceae crops in the southwest Marmora region of Turkey, during the 2004−06 growing seasons. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) TuMV was detected in the main brassica-crop fields of Turkey, with an overall incidence of 13·4%. TuMV was detected in samples from Brussels sprouts, cabbage, wild mustard, radish and wild radish, but not cauliflower or broccoli. The full-length sequences of the genomic RNAs of two biologically distinct isolates, TUR1 and TUR9, were determined. Recombination analyses showed that TUR1 was an intralineage recombinant, whereas TUR9 was a non-recombinant. Phylogenetic analyses of the Turkish isolates with those from the rest of the world showed that the TUR1 and TUR9 isolates belonged to world- Brassica and Asian- Brassica/ Raphanus groups, respectively. This study showed that TuMV is widely distributed in the Asia Minor region of Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The perioperative period is psychologically as well as physically stressful for patients. Although music and sound are known to reduce patients' psychological stress, a few previous studies showed an objective outcome of music. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relaxing effect of music during epidural anesthesia, using patients' salivary amylase activity. Methods: Thirty-two American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I or II patients presenting for inguinal hernia repair under epidural anesthesia were randomly assigned to listen to sounds of a soft wind and a twitter (S group) or to have no sounds (N group). Patients' salivary amylase activity was evaluated on arrival to the operating room and at wound closure. Results: Intra-operative music significantly decreased salivary amylase activity at wound closure in the S group and the activity at wound closure of the S group was significantly smaller than that of the N group. Conclusion: Intra-operative natural sound significantly decreased salivary amylase activity of patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair under epidural anesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of rotating anticathode X-ray generator has been developed, in which the electron beam irradiates the inner surface of a U-shaped anticathode (Cu). A high-flux electron beam is focused on the inner surface by optimizing the shape of the bending magnet. The power of the electron beam can be increased to the point at which the irradiated part of the inner surface is melted, because a strong centrifugal force fixes the melted part on the inner surface. When the irradiated part is melted, a large amount of energy is stored as the heat of fusion, resulting in emission of X-rays 4.3 times more brilliant than can be attained by a conventional rotating anticathode. Oscillating translation of the irradiated position on the inner surface during use is expected to be very advantageous for extending the target life. A carbon film coating on the inner surface is considered to suppress evaporation of the target metal and will be an important technique in further realization of highly bright X-ray generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Lymphomatous polyposis (LP) is considered to represent mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, a few reports have suggested that some are follicular lymphoma (FL) or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. In this study, we analysed 35 patients and clarified the clinicopathological features of LP. Methods and results: Paraffin-embedded tissue samples were stained immunohistochemically and analysed by tissue-fluorescence in situ hybridization (T-FISH) for IGH/CCND1 (cyclin D1) and IGH/BCL2. The average age of the patients was 58.3 years. Over half of the cases showed gastric, duodenal, small intestinal, ileocaecal and sigmoid colonic lesions (15, 19, 15, 16 and 16 cases, respectively). Phenotypically, cases were classified into three types of MCL (cyclin D1+ CD5+ CD10–) ( n = 12), FL (cyclin D1– CD5– CD10+) ( n = 14) and MALT (cyclin D1– CD5– CD10–) ( n = 9). T-FISH identified 11 of the 11 examined cases with MCLs to have IGH/CCND1, while seven of 10 cases with FL had IGH/BCL2, and none of the MALT cases were positive for IGH/CCND1 or IGH/BCL2. At the study endpoint, five of 12 patients with MCL were dead, two of 14 with FL and one of nine with MALT were dead of other disease. Event-free survival analysis showed significantly poorest outcome in MCL, followed by FL, while MALT was associated with a favourable outcome ( P = 0.0040). Conclusions: Our study emphasizes the importance of differentiating MCL, FL and MALT of LP in evaluating prognosis and hence the most suitable therapeutic regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To study the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features of 143 cases of primary small and large intestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in Japanese patients who presented between 1981 and 2000. Methods and results: The new World Health Organization (WHO) classification was used to classify NHL. The patients included 109 males and 34 females, with an average age of 54.1 years. Tumour sites were as follows: ileocaecal (n = 51, 35.7%), ileum (n = 29, 20.3%), rectum (n = 13, 9.1%), and duodenum (n = 11, 7.7%). Macroscopically, 124 cases (86.7%) were classified as tumorous type, 12 (8.4%) as diffuse infiltration type (erosion, superficial ulceration), five (3.5%) as polyposis type, and only two cases (1.4%) as ulceration type. Immunohistochemically, 122 lesions (85.3%) were of B-cell phenotype and 21 lesions (14.7%) were of T-cell phenotype. According to the WHO classification, of the B-cell lymphomas, 84 cases (68.9%) were large cell, 16 (13.1%) were Burkitt, 10 (8.2%) were marginal zone B-cell lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), and seven (5.7%) were mantle cell tumours. Among the T-cell lymphomas, 15 (71.4%) were of unspecified type, two (9.5%) were natural killer type, two were anaplastic large-cell lymphomas, one was lymphoblastic, and one was an adult T-cell leukaemia lymphoma. The survival rate for T-cell lymphomas was poorer than for B-cell lymphomas. Among the B-cell lymphomas, mantle cell lymphoma tended to have a poorer prognosis, whereas MALT lymphomas had a better prognosis than other B-cell tumour types. Conclusions: Our retrospective study of patients with primary malignant lymphomas in the small and large intestines has illustrated the clinical features and outcomes of patients with this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The genomes of a representative world-wide collection of 32 Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) isolates were sequenced and these, together with six previously reported sequences, were analysed. At least one-fifth of the sequences were recombinant. In phylogenetic analyses, using genomic sequences of Japanese yam mosaic virus as an outgroup, the TuMV sequences that did not show clear recombination formed a monophyletic group with four well-supported lineages. These groupings correlated with differences in pathogenicity and provenance; the sister group to all others was of Eurasian B-strain isolates from nonbrassicas, and probably represents the ancestral TuMV population, and the most recently ‘emerged’ branch of the population was probably that of the BR-strain isolates found only in east Asia. Eight isolates, all from east Asia, were clear recombinants, probably the progeny of recent recombination events, whereas a similar number, from other parts of the world, were seemingly older recombinants. This difference indicates that the presence of clear recombinants in a subpopulation may be a molecular signature of a recent ‘emergence’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Most primary gastrointestinal lymphomas are of B-cell origin and T-cell origin is very rare. Recent studies have suggested that human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) may be involved in the development of primary gastric T-cell lymphoma. We analysed 31 patients with primary gastric T-cell lymphoma in south-west Japan, an area endemic for HTLV-1, and determined their phenotypes, genotypes, and HTLV-1 status. Methods and results: Here we present 31 cases of primary gastric T-cell lymphoma in a HTLV-1-endemic area in Japan and analyse the clinical status, histology, phenotype and virus status. The median age at onset of primary gastric T-cell lymphoma was 57 years with a gender ratio of M:F = 1.58:1. Six of the 31 primary gastric T-cell lymphoma cases had HTLV-1 proviral DNA (five males, one female), nine of the 31 cases were positive for anti-adult T cell leukaemia antibody, without examination of HTLV-1 proviral DNA (five males, four females), eight were non-HTLV-1-associated primary gastric T-cell lymphoma (four males, four females) and the other eight cases were unknown. Primary gastric T-cell lymphoma usually presented as a large ulcerated tumour at the corpus to the antrum and histologically consisted of anaplastic large cell type (n = 2), pleomorphic large cell type (n = 3), pleomorphic medium and large cell type (n = 14), pleomorphic medium cell type (n = 11), and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma type (n = 1). There were no clear macroscopic and microscopic differences between HTLV-1-associated and non-HTLV-1-associated primary gastric T-cell lymphoma. Most patients died within 2 years of diagnosis, and both types of primary gastric T-cell lymphoma (with and without HTLV-1) were associated with poor prognosis. Cytotoxic marker analysis showed that HTLV-1-associated lymphomas were negative for TIA-1, while non-HTLV-1-associated lymphomas were positive for TIA-1. Conclusions: Our results suggest that in HTLV-1-endemic areas, patients... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessory cell tumour: a clinicopathological study of 16 aggressive tumours containing EBV-positive Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg-like giant cells Aims: Lymph nodes contain non-lymphoid accessory cells including follicular dendritic cells and interdigitating dendritic cells. Functionally, these cells belong to the category of immune accessory cells involved in antigen presentation to B or T-lymphocytes. Neoplastic proliferation of these cells is very uncommon. We present here the clinicopathological features of 16 cases of accessory cell tumour. Methods and results: We performed electron microscopic and immunohistochemical examinations, and used in-situ hybridization for EBV-encoded RNA (ISH-EBV) to detect the EBV genome in 11 cases, and Southern blot analysis to assess EBV clonality in two cases. Tumour cells were composed of oval-to-spindle cells arranged in diffuse, vague storiform, fascicular and sometimes whorled patterns in a background of small lymphocytes. In all cases, binucleated or multinucleated Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg-like giant cells were encountered. Staining for CD68 was positive in all cases. CD21, CD35, Ki-M4p, Ki-FDC1p, and S100 exhibited variable reactivity. ISH-EBV yielded positive labelling in seven of 11 cases, of which five exhibited EBV only in Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg-like giant cells. Southern blot analysis showed clonality of EBV terminal repeats (EBV-TR) in the two cases examined. Electron microscopic examination showed that many of the tumour cells had numerous interwoven long villous cell processes connected by occasional desmosomes. Many tumours were very refractory to chemotherapy and radiation, with a few exceptions, and half of the cases classified initially as stage IV. A short survival time, of 10 months or less, was observed in seven of 16 patients. Conclusions: Our study identified more aggressive behaviour of accessory cell tumours. Our results suggest that EBV may potentially induce activation of... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence for local immunosuppression and demonstration of c-myc amplification in pyothorax-associated lymphoma Aims: Pyothorax-associated lymphoma (PAL) develops in the pleural cavity of patients with a long history of pyothorax. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is also involved in PAL, similar to lymphomas in immunodeficient patients. Here we examined T-lymphocyte subsets as well as c-myc and REL gene amplification in PAL tissues. Methods and results: We determined the number and distribution of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes, to evaluate T-cells in the host immune reaction in seven cases of PAL. As controls, we also studied 10 cases of extranodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL) and 10 cases of nodal DLBL. Chromosomal imbalances in PAL were determined by using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis. The mean numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ and their ratio were significantly lower in PAL than in nodal DLBL. CGH analysis of PAL showed amplification of the 8q24 chromosomal region. In addition, c-myc amplification was found in four cases of PAL by Southern blot analysis. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the development of PAL may involve a local immunosuppressive environment and that amplification of c-myc might promote tumour progression, as has been described in the development of Burkitt’s lymphoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD10 and Bcl10 expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: CD10 is a marker of improved prognosis Aims: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, is clinically and pathologically heterogeneous. The Bcl10 gene was recently isolated from the breakpoint region of t(1;14)(p22;q32) in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas, and is considered to be an apoptosis-associated gene. CD10 is considered to be a marker of follicular centre B-cell differentiation. To assess the clinical significance and roles of CD10 and Bcl10 in DLBCL, we analysed 138 cases, using immunohistochemical methods. Methods and results: CD10 expression was limited to the cytoplasm, whereas Bcl10 expression was detected in the cytoplasm and/or nuclei. CD10 expression was detected in 39 of 138 cases (28.2%), cytoplasmic Bcl10 in 68 cases (49.2%), and nuclear Bcl10 in 34 cases (24.6%). Nuclear Bcl10 was detected in 14 of 28 cases (50%) of extranodal DLBCL, but only 20 of 110 cases (18.2%) of nodal DLBCL. Cytoplasmic Bcl10 was detected in 19 of 28 cases (67.8%) of extranodal DLBCL and 49 of 110 cases (44.5%) of nodal DLBCL. CD10 expression closely correlated with improved survival (68% overall survival (OS) vs. 48% OS), but not with site of disease. A high International Prognostic Index (IPI) was considered to be a poor prognostic factor associated with a shorter OS. CD10 expression was detected in 27 of 84 cases (32.1%) with low-risk IPIs, and in 12 of 54 cases (22.2%) with high-risk IPIs. In the low-risk group, cases expressing CD10 carried a better prognosis than CD10- cases (93% OS vs. 71% OS), whereas this was not the case in the high-risk group (25% vs. 20%). Conclusions: Bcl10 expression was associated with extranodal DLBCL, but not with prognosis. CD10 expression was closely associated with improved survival, but not with risk as predicted by IPI. Overall, our results suggest that CD10 expression may be useful, in combination with clinical parameters, for determining the prognosis of DLBCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Hodgkin's disease (HD) is characterized by the presence of Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg (H–RS) cells against a hyperplastic background of reactive cells such as lymphocytes, histiocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, and stromal cells. There is ample evidence to suggest that proliferation and survival of HD-derived cells is due to cytokine signalling. Recently, high expression of interleukin (IL)-13 was described in HD-derived cell lines. Here we investigated the possible involvement of IL-13 in the pathophysiology, especially autocrine pathways of H–RS cells. Methods and results: The expression of IL-13 and IL-13 receptor (IL-13R) was determined by immunostaining and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in 39 cases of HD, including 17 cases with nodular sclerosis (NS) type, 19 cases with mixed cellularity (MC), and three cases with lymphocyte predominance (LP) type. Expression of IL-13 was confined to H–RS cells and a few lymphocytes. IL-13R was expressed in H–RS cells, lymphocytes, histiocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. H–RS cells of MC and NS types frequently expressed both IL-13 and IL-13R. However, the number of IL-13-positive H–RS cells was statistically higher in NS-type than in MC-type, but the number of IL-13R was similar. IL-13R-positive fibroblasts were frequently encountered in NS-type. H–RS cells of LP type rarely expressed IL-13. Conclusions: Our results suggest that IL-13 might be involved in autocrine pathways of H–RS cells and fibrosis at least in NS-type. Our results also indicated that in addition to the morphological and phenotypic differences, the neoplastic cells of LP type might be functionally different from H–RS cells of MC- and NS-types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major obstacle in the treatment of lymphoma. The expression of MDR-1 mRNA and P-glycoprotein (MDR-1/P-gp) has been linked to MDR. We aimed to investigate the expression of MDR-1/P-gp in B-cell lymphoma. Methods and results: Samples at diagnosis and relapse from 10 patients with B-cell lymphoma were obtained. We also obtained 14 unselected control cases of B-cell lymphoma at diagnosis. The expression of mRNA and protein were determined semiquantitatively by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. High MDR-1 and P-gp expressions were found in seven and seven of 10 samples obtained at diagnosis, eight and eight of 10 samples obtained at relapse, and three and four of 14 control cases at diagnosis, respectively. The results of RT-PCR paralleled those of immunohistochemistry. Concordance of high MDR-1/P-gp expression was noted in 27 of 34 samples (r = 0.73, P = 0.001). There were no significant changes in MDR-1/P-gp expression in all cases at relapse and during the clinical course following chemotherapy. In the 14 control cases, the average survival time was 12.7 months in MDR-1/P-gp positive cases and 29.0 months in the MDR-1/P-gp negative cases (P = 0.20). Conclusions: Our results showed that at least some B-cell lymphomas express MDR-1/P-gp, which could be detected by different methods, and suggested that high MDR-1/P-gp expression in tumour cells may be associated with a high probability of relapse and poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of disorders characterized by peripheral pancytopenia despite normo- or hypercellular bone marrow. This is thought to be as a result of the apoptosis of haematopoietic bone marrow cells resulting in ineffective haematopoiesis. To clarify the relationship between prognosis and apoptosis and/or cell proliferation in the bone marrow, we studied 51 cases with MDS. Bone marrow biopsies were stained immunohistochemically for MIB-1 (marker for proliferating cells) and CD34 (marker for stem cells). Apoptosis was visualized by detection of DNA fragmentation using TdT incorporation of nucleotides on 3′ ends of DNA (TUNEL technique) and expressed as the apoptotic rate. MDS patients included 32 with refractory anaemia (RA), one RA with ringed sideroblasts (RARS) patient, seven RA with excess of blasts (RAEB) patients, eight patients with RAEB in transformation (RAEB-t) and three patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMMoL). In addition, we also studied six cases with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) arising from MDS (AML-MDS) and ten control subjects. Fatal pancytopenia was the cause of death in 19 out of 51 patients. The apoptotic rate was higher in MDS patients (5·5%) than in control subjects (0·6%) and AML-MDS patients (0·4%). The percentage of MIB-1 positive cells was higher in MDS and AML-MDS than in control. The percentage of CD34-positive cells was higher in AML-MDS, RAEB, RAEB-t and CMMoL patients than control subjects and RA patients. Our findings indicate the activation of both the proliferative and apoptotic rates in MDS. Poor prognosis correlated significantly with higher apoptotic rates, but not with percentages of MIB-1 and CD34-positive cells. Our results suggest that apoptosis might be a useful prognostic factor and inhibition of apoptotic mechanisms may induce leukaemic transformation in MDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimsCell death can be divided into necrosis and apoptosis. In histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL), apoptosis is the main form of cell death. Two molecular mechanisms of T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity, one perforin-based and the other Fas-based, have been demonstrated, and both systems induce apoptosis of the target cells. This study was designed to investigate the Fas and perforin pathways in HNL. Methods and resultsTwelve cases of HNL were analysed using immunohistochemical staining. The Fas and/or FasL-positive cells, including lymphocytes and histiocytes, were frequently encountered in the necrotizing lesions, however, they were rare in the nonpathological regions. The perforin and/or granzyme-positive cells were also confined in the necrotizing lesions. In double staining, CD8-positive lymphocytes occasionally expressed Fas and/or FasL, and histiocytes also expressed FasL and/or Fas. However, CD4-positive lymphocytes rarely expressed FasL and/or Fas. In a flow cytometric analysis, most of the cytotoxic T-cells, which were recognized by cytolytic granules of TIA-1 and considered to be CD8-positive lymphocytes, expressed FasL and Fas. The perforin-positive lymphocytes also expressed FasL and Fas. ConclusionIn our previous study, the apoptotic cells were T-cells, especially CD8-positive cells rather than CD4-positive cells. Based on these findings, in Fas and perforin pathways, the CD8-positive cells were considered to be effector and target cells, while histiocytes could possibly be enhancers. As a result, both pathways seemed to induce an abundance of apoptosis and thus induce necrotizing lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical significance and potential prognostic value of the expression of a panel of surface markers, proliferating, suppressor and oncogenic proteins in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). Biopsies were collected from 158 patients with DLBCL and analyzed immunohistochemically for p53, p21/WAF1, bcl-2, cyclin-D1, bcl-6, mdr, CD5, CD30, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), Ki-67 and c-myc positive tumor cells. Among these, 76 young and middle-aged patients (20–65 years) were selected to investigate the relationship between protein expression, clinical features, and survival. Survival analysis showed that advanced stage, high lactic dehydrogenase level, and high International Prognostic Index (IPI) were poor prognostic factors associated with a shorter overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) times. A high p53 expression and low bcl-6 expression were associated with a shorter DFS time. The histological variant type, cyclin-D1+ CD5+ DLBCL, positive epithelial membrane antigen (EMA+) CD30– DLBCL, high bcl-2 expression, and low Ki-67 proliferation activity tended to be associated with worse survival, but the correlations were not statistically significant. In the multivariate analysis, the most significant factors were age, followed by IPI and last p53. The expression of p21/WAF1, mdr, and c-myc proteins did not influence OS and DFS. The expression of p53 and bcl-6 proteins may be useful prognostic indicators in DLBCL. Cyclin-D1+ CD5+ or EMA+ CD30– DLBCL tended to predict a worse survival and may probably bear a significant prognostic value worthy of consideration. Overall, clinical factors appeared to be more important than biologic parameters in determining the prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenesis of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL), which was reported first by Kikuchi et al. and Fujimoto et al. in 1972, is as yet unknown. HNL is frequently reported in Asian countries including Japan, however it is rare in Europe and North America. To elucidate whether the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and haplotypes are associated with HNL, we performed DNA typing of HLA class II genes (HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP) in 86 patients with HNL and 525 unrelated healthy Japanese controls with polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes (PCR-SSOP). In this study, we found DPA1*01 and DPB1*0202 allele frequencies in HLA class II genes are significantly higher in HNL patients than in normal controls. It is known that the frequency of DPB1*0202 alleles is extremely low or absent in Caucasians (e.g., French 0.4%, Italian 0.8%) and Negroid (e.g., South African 0%, Hottentot 0%), but relatively frequent in Asians (e.g., Korean 9.9%, Japanese 4.5%). Previous reports have said the incidence of HNL is frequent in Asians but rare in other races. In light of this background, HLA class II genes of HNL and the incidence of HNL in Asian countries, including Japan, might have a positive relationship to DPA1*01 and DPB1*0202 allele. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPHd)-positive neurones was investigated in the chicken caecum. Double staining combined NADPHd histochemistry with immunohistochemistry for neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) indicated that NADPHd-positive neurones also showed immunoreactivity for nNOS. NADPHd-positive nerve cell bodies were observed in both the myenteric and the submucous plexuses. Nerve fibres showing enzyme activity were mainly distributed in the circular muscle layer, but only a few fibres in the mucosal layer. Fine nerve fibres showing NADPHd activity were found running between germinal centres in the caecal tonsil. Quantitative analysis showed no significant differences in the number of enzyme-positive nerve cell bodies per ganglion of the myenteric and the submucous plexuses among three different caecal regions; proximal, middle and distal regions. Larger numbers of ganglia were detected in the submucous plexus than the myenteric plexus at all three regions. These data indicate that nitrergic neurones in the submucous plexus mainly project to the circular muscle layer in the chicken caecum. It is possible that nitrergic nerves regulate the motility of the chicken caecum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Coexistence of paraneoplastic pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid".

The expression and prognostic significance of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor c-MET (METproto-oncogene) was analysed in 96 cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Tissue sections were immunohistochemically stained for HGF and c-Met. The prognosis of HGF-positive and c-Met-positive cases was significantly worse than negative cases (HGF:P = 0·0036; c-Met:P = 0·0002). In addition, in the low-risk international prognostic index group, HGF-negative and c-Met-negative cases had a significantly better prognosis than positive cases (HGF:P = 0·0009; c-Met:P < 0·0001). Our results suggest that HGF/c-MET is a useful clinical marker of prognosis for patients with DLBCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "First report of Turnip mosaic virus on Brassicaceae crops in Turkey," by S. Korkmaz, S. Onder, Y. Tomitaka and K. Ohshima is presented.

The article discusses the occurrence of Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) on ornamental crops in Iran. When sap from affected leaves was used for mechanical inoculation, necrotic local lesions, followed by systemic and top necrosis symptoms, were produced on Nicotiana glutinosa. The collected leaf samples and inoculated plants were tested for TuMV by DAS-ELISA using specific polyclonal antibodies. ELISA tests confirmed the presence of TuMV in both the original leaf samples and inoculated indicator plants. Transmission electron microscopy showed flexuous filamentous particles 720-730 nm long in leaf extracts of the plants sampled.