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The current study was conducted to clarify the frequency of systemic circulating tumor cells (CTCs) appearing after surgery for renal cell carcinoma and to evaluate the differences in postoperative CTCs between different surgical procedures. This prospective, cohort study included 60 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (RN) (n = 22), laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (PN) (n = 19), open RN (n = 8), or open PN (n = 11). In this study CTCs were measured by the FISHMAN-R system, and CTCs drawn from a peripheral artery were collected just before and immediately after surgery. The number of pre- and postoperative CTCs and the perioperative changes in CTCs were measured for each surgical method. Six patients were excluded from the current analyses. Preoperative CTCs did not differ significantly by surgical approach (laparoscopic RN: 3.4 ± 4.2; laparoscopic PN: 3.4 ± 4.1; open RN: 7.7 ± 6.8; open PN: 6.0 ± 7.6; P = 0.19). Open RN resulted in a significantly greater number of postoperative CTCs (laparoscopic RN: 4.8 ± 3.7; laparoscopic PN: 7.9 ± 9.1; open RN: 22.5 ± 26.3; open PN: 6.4 ± 6.3; P

The pathophysiology of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) remained unclear. Here, we concentrated on the complement activation in the growth of BPH using a rat model. BPH tissues were harvested from rats after rat urogenital sinus implantation. The local expression and deposition levels of C1q, C3, mannose-binding lectin (MBL), factor B (FB), and C5b-9 in the rat and human BPH tissues were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Serum IgG levels in the rat BPH model were analyzed by ELISA, and IHC was used to assess tissue localization. Proteins binding serum IgG autoantibody in the BPH rats were isolated by immunoprecipitation. C1q, C3, MBL, FB and C5b-9 were highly localized in rat BPH tissues compared to normal tissues. In contrast, C3, FB and C5b-9, but not C1q and MBL, were abundantly detected in human BPH tissues compared to normal tissues. Diffuse localization of IgG in rat BPH tissues was found. Heat shock protein 90, annexin, α-smooth muscle actin, and β-actin were identified as targets for IgG autoantibodies in the BPH model. Our results strongly suggested the role for complement activation in the growth process of BPH, likely triggered by classical pathway activation with autoantibodies.

Objectives To characterize the molecular features of benign prostatic hyperplasia by carrying out a gene expression profiling analysis in a rat model. Methods Fetal urogenital sinus isolated from 20-day-old male rat embryo was implanted into a pubertal male rat ventral prostate. The implanted urogenital sinus grew time-dependently, and the pathological findings at 3 weeks after implantation showed epithelial hyperplasia as well as stromal hyperplasia. Whole-genome oligonucleotide microarray analysis utilizing approximately 30 000 oligonucleotide probes was carried out using prostate specimens during the prostate growth process (3 weeks after implantation). Results Microarray analyses showed 926 upregulated (>2-fold change, P < 0.01) and 3217 downregulated genes (

BACKGROUND To elucidate the pathogenesis of benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) in humans due to chronic inflammation caused by arteriosclerosis, the relationships between prostate size and the degree of chronic inflammation induced by local arteriosclerosis were investigated. METHODS The present cohort included 50 subjects who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in a prospective study. The presence or absence of local arteriosclerosis in the prostatic arteries removed during RARP was evaluated by microscopic assessment. Chronic inflammation in the prostate was judged according to both the density and the extent of inflammatory cells. The expression of lectin-like oxidized-low density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) and the infiltration of macrophages in the prostate, which are high in arteriosclerosis, were investigated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Local arteriosclerosis was observed in 28% (14/50). Prostate size and the inflammation score were significantly increased in the presence of arteriosclerosis (P = 0.006, P

Background: We report two cases in which the data marked by low levels of serum iron (Fe) (negative value), low levels of serum calcium (Ca) and high levels of serum potassium (K) were inconsistent with their clinical states. Re-examination within 1 day showed that all the data were within or close to the reference intervals. These results could suggest contamination of ethylene diamine tetraacetate-dipotassium salt (K2EDTA) used in the blood collection tube for peripheral blood cell count in the tube for the serum. One of the mechanisms was suspected to be due to the backflow of evacuated blood mixed with K2EDTA into serum tube. Materials and methods: To analyze the influence of EDTA on routine and nonroutine laboratory tests, we performed routine examination using serum and EDTA plasma from healthy volunteers. Results: We found a definite effect on iron, calcium and potassium and alkaline phosphatase, zinc sulfate turbidity test, ammonia, leucine aminopeptidase and CH50. We also found a definite effects on copper, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -3 and -9, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), monoamine oxidase (MAO), vitamin B12, ACTH and IL-6, though the mechanisms were not clear. Conclusions: Inappropriate blood collection can induced false biochemical data due to the contamination of EDTA.

The localization of endothelin (ET)-1/big ET-1, ET-3/big ET-3, ET-A and ET-B receptor was immunohistochemically examined in human adrenal glands composed of 36 normal cases, nine hyperplasia, 70 adenomas and seven carcinomas of cortical cells. In normal adrenals, ET-1/big ET-1 and ET-B receptor were regularly detected in the cortical cells, especially in the zona fasciculata for ET-1 and zona glomerulosa for ET-B receptor but not in the medulla, while ET-A receptor localized occasionally in endothelial cells or rarely in cortical cells and ET-3/big ET-3 was very limited in the cortical cells. In hyperplasia, adenoma and carcinoma, ET-1/big ET-1 and ET-B receptor showed frequent localization, although focal distribution of the ET-B receptor was rather predominant in these groups. ET-A receptor and ET-3/big ET-3 were very infrequently expressed. Functioning versus non-functioning and hypertensive versus normotensive cases revealed no significant differences in the frequency of positive cells for ET-1/big ET-1, ET-3/big ET-3, ET-A receptor or ET-B receptor. Alternatively, the frequency of immunoreactivity to ET-1/big ET-1 or ET-B receptor significantly decreased in hyperplasia, adenoma and carcinoma, when compared with that of normal adrenal cortex. The present study, therefore, indicates that ET-1/big ET-1 and ET-B receptor are a prevalent ligand-receptor system in normal and hyperplastic/neoplastic adrenocortical cells, even with a malignant profile, and may contribute in maintaining adrenocortical cell function or cell viability but not cell growth or systemic hypertension.

Five cases of non-melanotic pigmented schwannoma with excess accumulation of neuromelanin are presented. The tumors were composed basically of spindle or fusiform tumor cells, compatible with those of classical schwannoma, together with varying numbers of tumor cells containing various amounts of light brown or grayish pigment. Fontana-Masson stain demonstrated argentaffin granules in some tumor cells of each tumor and bleaching with potassium permanganate abolished argentaffin reaction. Ultrastructural examination demonstrated the granules contained fine particles with heterogeneous density, occasionally together with coarse granular materials or amorphous high-density areas, indicating lysosome or autophagosome. Neither typical melanosomes nor neurosecretory granules were detected. In immunohistochemistry, neurogenic markers as well as CD68 were expressed in most tumor cells in each case and various numbers of tumor cells were positive for Leu7 and CD34. Lysozyme was also frequently positive in tumor cells, especially in granular cells. HMB45 was not expressed in any of the cases. These findings indicate that these cases are schwannomas with abnormal accumulation of neuromelanin-like pigment.

Human acinic cell adenocarcinoma cell (HACC) line was established from the pleural effusion that contains metastatic tumor cells of acinic cell adenocarcinoma of papillary and microcystic type originating from the parotid gland. The HACC cells grew in an adherent monolayer with a doubling time of 66 h. Implanted tumor of SCID mice revealed similar histological findings to that of the primary tumor. The HACC cells produced mucin and expressed epithelial markers as well as alpha1-antitrypsin and lysozyme, whereas salivary peptide P-C was expressed in cultured HACC cells but not in the primary and implanted HACC cell tumors. S-100 protein was also expressed in both the primary tumor and HACC cell line. Neither amplification of common oncogenes nor expression of p53 was observed. The receptor for epidermal growth factor (EGF) was expressed, indicating EGF and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) enhanced the growth of the HACC line. Unexpectedly, tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-alpha) also enhanced the growth of the HACC line significantly. However, there was no evidence of autocrine growth using these growth factors. In contrast, TGF-beta1 inhibited the growth of the HACC cell line through apoptosis. The HACC cell line has features similar to both acinar and intercalated ductal cells of the salivary gland. Epidermal growth factor, TGF-alpha and TNF-alpha are potential growth factors for the HACC cell line. The HACC cell line may be a good model for studying the biological behavior of salivary gland neoplasms.

Endothelin (ET) and its receptor system have been shown to exert various biological effects on different types of cells in addition to their well-known vasoconstrictor activity. Recently ET-1, ET-3 and the ETB receptor have been shown to play an important role in the development of neural crest-derived cells and, in this context, pheochromocytomas have been reported to harbor ET-1. Endothelin-3 or ET receptor subtypes, however, have not been examined in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma so far. In the present study the immunohistochemical localization of ET-1/big ET-1, ET-3/big ET-3 and the ETA and ETB receptors were investigated to clarify the biological characteristics of these two tumors using 32 pheochromocytomas and 11 extra-adrenal paragangliomas. Endothelin-1/big ET-1 was detected in 19 pheochromocytomas (59%) and eight paragangliomas (72%), while ET-3/big ET-3 was detected in 10 pheochromocytomas (31%) and three paragangliomas (27%). The ETA receptor was found in 21 pheochromocytomas (66%) and in eight paragangliomas (73%), while the ETB receptor was found in 25 pheochromocytomas (78%) and in eight paragangliomas (73%). Normal adrenomedullary cells lacked each antigen examined. Endothelin-immunoreactive tumor cells were distributed focally or in a manner scattered, while receptor-immunostained tumor cells were distributed with a focal pattern for the ETA receptor and with a focal or diffuse pattern for the ETB receptor. Endothelin and its receptor coexisted in the same tumor in 21 of 28 ET-positive pheochromocytomas and in eight of 10 ET-positive paragangliomas. In addition, seven pheochromocytomas and two paragangliomas revealed positivity of the receptor(s) irrespective of the absence of ET-immunoreactivity. In conclusion, ET and its receptor are frequently and concomitantly expressed in the pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. From the highly frequent expression of this system or the receptor(s), ET-receptor-mediated signal transduction of these tumors concerning growth and/or cell survival is expected, although definite biological significance of this ligand-receptor system in these tumors awaits further investigation.

A 56 year old woman presented with abnormal uterine bleeding. Except for a myomatous uterus, no other abnormalities were noted on physical examination and in radiographic and serologic studies. The hysterectomy specimen revealed an 8 cm uterine fundic tumor composed of two histologically different patterns that merged with one another; one was a well differentiated leiomyosarcoma and the other a mixture of osteoclast-like giant cells (OGC) and plump spindle cells whose cell borders blended, resembling the histology of giant cell tumor of bone. Immunohistochemical studies showed positive staining for muscle actin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and KP-1 (CD68) in both the spindle cells and OGC. The latter also stained for alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin. These findings suggested that OGC may be formed by the fusion of spindle cells of leiomyosarcoma and also express histiocytic markers.

Immunocytochemistry reveals 75 kDa low affinity type nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) on the cell membrane of human neurofibroma cells of von Recklinghausen disease in vivo and in vitro. NGF-immunoreactivity is detected in the primary and cultured tumor cells. Growth augmentation of cultured neurofibroma cells by exogenous NGF is also confirmed. Phosphotyrosine-immunoreactivity is demonstrated by immunocytochemistry in the in vivo and in vitro neurofibroma cells suggesting possible phosphorylation of tyrosine residue in the NGFR or a cellular protein downstream of signal transduction through the ligand receptor system. These results indicate human neurofibroma cells possess functional NGFR and the growth is potentiated through the NGF-NGFR system in the paracrine and/or autocrine fashion.