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The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of dynamic MR hepatocholangiography with the Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced SIP Fast GRE sequence in the hepatobiliary system. The SIP Fast GRE sequence was used for sequential imaging of the hepatobiliary system with a frame rate of 3 sec in a 256 x 192 matrix. Dynamic sequential acquisition was performed for 51 min before and after the injection of 30 mu mol/kg of Gd-EOB-DTPA in a rabbit. Dynamic images of the hepatobiliary system were obtained in the rabbit study. Dynamic MR hepatocholangiography provides better functional information than conventional MR cholangiography.

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Several studies have indicated that the analysis of esophageal motion provides a valid means of identifying esophageal diseases. Although this motion can be seen on esophagogram, its quantification leaves much room for improvement. This study presents a computer method to quantify the apparent motion (optical flow) observed on sequences of esophagogram. This method computes at every point of a sequence of digitized images the two-dimensional velocity vector which characterized its motion from one image to the next image. The information on motion of the esophagus can be displayed by superimposing the local velocity vector on the original image.

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To assess the value of dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging combined with magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) of breast cancer by SPGR sequence, 15 patients with breast cancer were imaged in the supine position with the newly developed breast coil in a 1.5 Tesla imager. Dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging combined with MTC (10 cases) and conventional dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging (5 cases) were performed after the administration of Gd-DTPA (0.2 ml/kg). Sagittal images were obtained every 22 seconds during the first 264 seconds. Thus, a total of 15 images were obtained in each lesion. The signal intensity ratio (SIR) of lesion to mammary glarid was calculated for each image as follows: (SI lesion/SI mammary gland)/(SI (pre)lesion/SI (pre)mammary gland). Dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging with MTC always allowed better SIR at 88 seconds than conventional dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging after bolus injection (p < 0.01). Dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging with MTC improved detection of the boundary of the lesion and mammary gland.

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The follicular dendritic cells (FDC) in B-lymphoid follicles are unique reticular cells that retain immune complexes on their surfaces. We developed new monoclonal antibodies (MAb), SKY01, 28, 41, and 49, against mouse FDC without useful cell markers. Immunohistochemical study of spleen and lymph node tissues from Balb/c, C3H, and C57BL/6 mice revealed that SKY01 and 49 were highly specific for FDC, whereas SKY28 and 41 reacted with other stromal components as well as FDC. On immunoelectron microscopy (IEM), reaction products for all MAb were localized on the surfaces of FDC. In ontogenetic study of Balb/c spleen, FDC precursors were not immunodetected with any of the MAb at 1 week after birth. The FDC that first appeared as immune complex-retaining cells at 2 weeks were a subpopulation of SKY01-, 49-, 28+, and 41+ reticular cells. At 3 weeks, FDC were positive for all MAb, like adult spleen. These results indicate that our MAb recognize differentiation antigens of FDC. Comparative immunohistochemical studies of spleen from athymic nude and severe combined immunodeficiency mice suggested that B-cells may be required for the differentiation of FDC. Consequently, these MAb are considered useful tools for research on FDC.

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A human ovarian cancer cell line designated "KK" was established from ascites of a patient with ovarian clear cell carcinoma. This cell line was grown for more than 2 years and over 140 passages in medium RPMI1640 containing 10% FCS. Doubling time of this cell line at passage 70 was approximately 4 days and saturation density was 1.1 x 10(5)/cm2. Plating efficiency was approximately 23%. Chromosome analysis revealed aneuploidy with a model number of 67. PAS-positive substances were present in the cytoplasm. CA125 and SLX were detected in both the original tumor and the cultured cells. This cell line is less sensitive to cisplatin than KF cells and IC50 was 0.95 microM.

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A human ovarian cancer cell line designated "MH" was established from ascites of a patient with ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma treated with cisplatin. This cell line was grown for more than 2 years and over 100 passages in medium RPMI1640 containing 10% FCS. The cell doubling time, saturation density and plating efficiency was approximately 6.3 days, 5.5 x 10(4)/cm2, and 42%, respectively. Chromosomal analysis revealed aneuploidy with a modal number of 72 and 14-19 types of marker chromosomes. CA125 was detected in both the original tumor and the cultured cells. This cell line is cisplatin-resistant (IC50: 3.28 microM) and has high protein kinase C activity.

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We compared the survival of cultured epithelial allografts and epithelial autografts applied to donor sites for split-thickness skin grafts. Before grafting, cultured epithelium was devoid of Langerhans cells (LCs) or lymphoid cells by immunohistochemical and electron microscopic examinations. The autografts attached to the wounds permanently, without any clinical evidence of rejection. In contrast, allografts, which were mismatched for MHC and blood-type antigens, appeared to adhere firmly only until day 7. By the second week, signs of graft rejection were apparent: The graft changed color, and the underlying dermis underwent "microerosion" and denudation. By the third week, the area formerly occupied by the allograft had the same coloration as ungrafted wounds and apparently had undergone reepithelialization by the host. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies clearly demonstrated that host Langerhans-like cells (without Birbeck granules) appeared in both autografts and allografts. However, these cells were numerous and distributed widely throughout allografts, whereas they were scarce and confined to the basal layer of autografts. Typical Langerhans cells (containing Birbeck granules) were present in the prickle-cell layer of autografts by day 7. The present study strongly indicates that allografts of cultured epithelium are rejected. Furthermore, given the known ability of Langerhans-like cells to function as accessory cells in T-cell activation, our results point to a role for host Langerhans-like cells in immunologically mediated rejection of the epithelial allografts.

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We encountered a patient who was diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at 15 years old and developed malignant RA (MRA) within one year. He suffered from mononeuritis multiplex and cutaneous infarction. Despite of treatment including steroid pulse therapy, neuritis progressed. Lung infiltration, pancreatitis and intestinal bleeding were accompanied. He died of disseminated intravascular coagulation on 153 days after admission. Autopsy revealed systemic rheumatoid vasculitis in coronary artery, pancreas, liver, small and large intestine, kidney and lung. These severe vasculitis occurred in young RA patient are rare case and it is important to consider the therapy and prognosis.

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The cell nature of follicular dendritic cells (FDC), a member of dendritic cell group, was examined to see whether or not they are recirculating cells on splenic implantation study. Slices of BALB/c mouse spleen were implanted into C57BL/6 mice neonatally thymectomized and reconstructed by F1 (BALB/c x C57BL/6) thymus grafting. On H-2 class I immunohistology 6 months later, host spleens consisted of only the cells including FDC of host (C57BL/6) type. On the other hand, FDC of regenerated splenic grafts were of splenic donor (BALB/c) origin and haematogenic cells including germinal centre lymphocytes were of the host (C57BL/6) origin. The fact that the FDC in the regenerated splenic grafts reside irrespective of the replacement by host recirculating cells indicates that FDC belong primarily to stationary cell populations but not recirculating cell populations.

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Glomerular visceral epithelial cells (vGEC) play an important role in the synthesis of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), and together with glomerular endothelial cells and the GBM, in glomerular ultrafiltration. Therefore clarification of the properties of vGEC is essential to investigations of glomerular morphology and function in both physiologic and pathologic conditions. This article demonstrates that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is mitogenic to vGEC in vitro. Its effect was found at concentrations as low as 1.25 ng/ml, and was synergistic with epidermal growth factor (EGF). In contrast, EGF by itself had no demonstrable mitogenic effect at concentrations of 1.25-100 ng/ml. In addition, mRNA for bFGF was identified in cultured vGEC by the method of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and the immunoreactivity of bFGF was found in GEC of the Sprague-Dawley rat kidney. These results suggest that bFGF stimulates the proliferation of vGEC in an autocrine manner in vivo. A unique relationship similar to that observed in endothelial cells may also exist among bFGF, vGEC, and the extracellular matrix (ECM). In a word, bFGF may be produced by vGEC and stored in the ECM, that is the GBM, and may be one factor that stimulates vGEC to proliferate when vGEC are injured and lost in vivo.

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This study was undertaken to observe coronary thrombus formation serially from an antegrade perspective by means of a new thin flexible angioscope that has an inflatable balloon at the distal tip and an angulation mechanism. To test its capabilities, thrombi were induced in the left anterior descending coronary artery of 11 dogs by copper coils, and the thrombi were then observed through this angioscope, which had been introduced into the coronary artery by a guide catheter. Five minutes after insertion of the copper coil, fibrin-like material and white components of the thrombi were seen massing around the copper coil. Then, thin, mixed thrombotic white and red components formed around the copper coil. At fifteen minutes after the copper coil insertion, the thrombi grew in size. Ten minutes later, the thrombi finally obstructed the coronary lumen in most dogs. The red and white appearance of these thrombi was confirmed macroscopically, and the microscopic findings of these occluding thrombi revealed a fibrinous network with platelet aggregates and blood cell coagulation. Though ordinary angiography cannot reveal the precise features of the various coronary thrombi, this new angioscope was able to discern them from the antegrade perspective. The capabilities of this angioscope, which enabled these findings, should prove helpful in evaluating the stages of human coronary thrombosis. Of additional benefit, this angioscope can be used clinically for cardiac catheterization.

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