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Reports on the primary structure, cDNA isolation, and functional expression of erythrose reductases (ER) in Escherichia coli. Indication that NADPH-dependent ER in erythritol-producing fungi, Tricho sporonoides megachiliensis SNG-42, catalyze the reduction of D-erythrose; Characterization of the biochemical properties of ER enzymes ER-I, ER-II, and ER-III; Cloning of three cDNA using internal amino acids sequences of ER-III and ER-I with peptide mapping; Finding that the recombinant enzymes of ER1, ER2, and ER3 showed similar electrophoretic properties to that of the native ER-I, ER-II, and ER-III on SDS- and Native- but no on IEF-Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

A very rare case of deciduoid mesothelioma in the pelvic cavity is presented. A 24-year-old woman (gestational stage: 28 weeks and 6 days) was admitted because of a tumor mass in the abdominal cavity. A well-circumscribed and fibrously encapsulated tumor mass was revealed in the Douglas cavity. Histologically, tumor cells were arranged in a solid sheet with deciduoid appearance and showed partial glandular and papillary structures. The tumor cells contained PAS positive and diastase-digested granules in the cytoplasm as well as alcian-blue positive and hyaluronidase-digested substances in the stroma. The cellularity of the tumor cells was moderate and mitoses were rare. There was partial tumor necrosis and tumor cells had infiltrated through the fibrous capsule. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were reactive for pancytokeratin, cytokeratin5/6, vimentin, HBME-1, calretinin and thrombomodulin. Ultrastructurally, numerous, long microvilli, tonofilaments and desmosome junctions could be seen. Consequently, this case was diagnosed as deciduoid mesothelioma and 2 years and 4 months after operation, the patient's clinical course has been good. This case is considered to be the first reported in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe a unique case of drusen resolution accompanying the spontaneous closure of an eccentric full-thickness macular hole (FTMH)., Methods: This study is a case report., Results: A 71-year-old male exhibited confluent drusen in the right eye beneath the fovea. During regular follow-up, an eccentric FTMH developed in the right eye and closed spontaneously. Concurrently, the confluent drusen showed rapid regression without signs of geographic atrophy or macular neovascularization. Visual acuity remained stable throughout the monitoring period., Conclusion: This case suggests that drusen regression can occur alongside spontaneous FTMH closure without surgical intervention. This adds to the current understanding of the pathology and treatment for drusen.

Purpose: To describe clinical characteristics of a retinal finding termed mound-like epiretinal material (MOLEM), and distinguish it from epiretinal proliferation, a similar epiretinal finding previously described in various pathologies., Methods: Five eyes from five patients were retrospectively identified from medical records. Clinical findings and images, including fundus photographs and optical coherence tomography (OCT), were reviewed., Results: All eyes displayed mound-like material with uniform and low-to-moderate reflectivity on an otherwise intact retinal surface detected on OCT. No eyes presented with concurrent pathology typically observed in cases of epiretinal proliferation, such as lamellar/full-thickness macular hole, epiretinal membrane, vitreomacular traction, or uveitis. Two eyes exhibited central serous chorioretinopathy, but there was no association of MOLEM with serous retinal detachment. In three out of five eyes, MOLEM appeared simultaneously with posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). Some lesions underwent irregular transformations over months and occasionally disappeared. While all cases were monitored without intervention, no visual decline or complications attributed to MOLEM were detected., Conclusion: MOLEM represents a novel clinical finding, characterized by transient morphological changes without symptoms and potential association with PVD. It may occur in eyes lacking macular diseases linked with epiretinal proliferation, a similar yet distinct lesion. The incidence, etiology, and clinical significance of MOLEM warrant further investigation by accumulating comparable cases, although the lesion appears benign and self-limiting.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of rapid cytological examinations at autopsy. Rapid cytological diagnosis was performed for nine cases at autopsy using Papanicolaou and/or Giemsa staining. Material was obtained by imprint or needle-aspiration. Among 9 cases, 5 cases were sarcoma, 3 cases carcinoma and 1 case infectious disease. All cases were reported to the physicians during autopsies. Precise medical informations including rapid cytological examination were informed immediately to bereaved family members. The present study showed that rapid cytological examination in conjunction with autopsy is an easy procedure and is not only useful in the concrete diagnosis of death by unknown causes but also helpful in deciding appropriate management of materials for the next steps such as electron microscope diagnosis.