Ossifying epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

A case of small epithelioid hemangioendothelioma encapsulated by an egg-shaped bony shell composed of newly formed mature lamellar bone is presented. A nodule measuring 10 x 5 x 5 mm was excised from inside of the right cheek muscle of a 46-year-old man. Histopathologically, the nodule consisted mainly of round-to-short spindled epithelioid cells with round nuclei and occasional cytoplasmic vacuoles associated with some foci of osseous metaplasia. Characteristically, egg shell-like lamellar bone enclosed this lesion showing well-circumscribed appearance. The main component cells were immunohistochemically stained positive for factor VIII-related antigen, CD 34, UEA-1, and vimentin, and proved to be vascular endothelial cells. The term ossifying epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is proposed for this unique lesion. This type of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma has not been previously reported to our knowledge, and differentiation from ossifying fibromyxoid tumor of soft parts is considered to be important.     

Local response of the primate retinal microcirculation to increased metabolic demand induced by flicker

PURPOSE: To study the response of the macular circulation to a local increase in metabolic demand created by a flickering source of illumination. METHODS: Laser-targeted angiography (release of a fluorescent dye from heat-sensitive liposomes using a laser pulse) was used to study, in subhuman primates, changes in hemodynamic parameters of the retinal circulation that were induced by a flickering source of illumination. Changes in the macular macrocirculation were compared with those in the macular microcirculation and were evaluated at various distances from the foveola. RESULTS: In response to monochromatic light flicker, the blood flow in retinal arteries increased by 30%. The response of the microcirculation was not homogeneous. It showed a maximum increase in the mid-perifoveal region where there is an increase in ganglion cells and nerve fibers. Interestingly, the maximum change in the index representing capillary blood flow exceeded the blood flow change in the artery (P < 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: A stimulus expected to cause increased metabolic demand results in a regulatory response by the retinal microcirculation. This response shows spatial variations that correspond with known variations in retinal anatomy. The authors propose that a redistribution of blood can occur between the capillary layers to fulfill high metabolic demands by neuronal tissue remote from the choroid.     

Visualization of leukocyte dynamics in the choroid with indocyanine green

PURPOSE: To report a method to evaluate leukocyte dynamics in the choroidal circulation with indocyanine green (ICG) angiography. METHODS: Nonpigmented and pigmented rats were administered ICG solution intravenously. The fundus image was obtained with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope and recorded on magnetic tapes at a video rate (30 frames/second). The images were analyzed with a personal computer-based image analysis system. RESULTS: On ICG angiography, hyperfluorescent dots were seen moving along the choroidal vessels and in the retinal vessels several minutes after injection. These fluorescent dots were thought to be circulating leukocytes stained with ICG. The micrographs of blood smears after ICG injection showed intense fluorescence of leukocytes. Computer-assisted image analysis allowed tracing of these fluorescent dots using a frame-by frame method. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study indicated that ICG can be used for vital staining of leukocytes and that it is possible to evaluate leukocyte movement in the choroidal circulation in vivo in rats.     

AR modeling of myoelectric interference signals during a rampcontraction

The authors investigated the time-varying behavior of the autoregressive (AR) parameters in a myoelectric (ME) signal detected during a linear force increasing contraction. The AR parameters of interest mere the reflection coefficients, the AR model spectrum, and the prediction errors. The authors used well-conditioned ME signals for which the complete time record of the motor units firings was available. In addition, the influence of the recruitment of a new motor unit, the conduction velocity of action potentials, and additive broad-band noise were investigated using simulated ME signals. The simulated ME signals were constructed from a selected group of the available motor unit action potential trains. The results revealed that, as the contraction progressed, the AR parameters displayed a time-varying behavior which coincided with the recruitment of newly recruited motor units whose spectrum of the waveform differed from that of the rest of the ME signal. This property of the AR parameters was obscured by the presence of broad-band noise and low-amplitude motor unit action potentials, both of which are more pronounced during low-level force contractions     

Ultrasound biomicroscopy of the anterior segment of the eyes of infants

Multiplex PCR amplification has been useful for gene mapping with polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) loci. We have tested the four loci D20S470, D13S325, HumFOLP23 and D10S2325 for the simultaneous typing of more than 100 unrelated Koreans. This analysis allows a single base pair resolution and rapid typing with silver staining. The allele and genotype distributions are in accordance with Hardy - Weinberg expectations. These STR loci have proven useful for forensic analysis and paternity tests in which the variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) loci have some limitations.     

Radial force and speed detection for improved magnetic suspension in bearingless motors

In this paper, radial forces and speeds are detected and used in negative feedback loops to enhance damping factors and response speed in bearingless induction motors. Radial forces and speeds are calculated from the detected radial force fluxes. Both radial force and torque generating fluxes are detected from search coil fluxes wound around stator teeth. The effectiveness on improving damping of radial positioning is shown both theoretically and experimentally.     

Involvement of Acetobacter orientalis in the production of lactobionic acid in Caucasian yogurt (“Caspian Sea yogurt”) in Japan

Lactobionic acid was first found in a Caucasian fermented milk product popularly known as “Caspian Sea yogurt” in Japan. The presence of lactobionic acid in the fermented milk was indicated by the results of both high-performance anion-exchange chromatographic analysis with pulsed amperometric detection and mass spectrometric analysis. Thereafter, the acid was purified from the yogurt and analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance. A substantial amount of lactobionic acid was found to be accumulated in the upper layer of the yogurt, especially within 10 mm from the surface. A total of 45 mg of lactobionic acid per 100 g of the upper yogurt layer was collected after 4 d of fermentation. The annual intake of lactobionic acid in individuals consuming 100 g of the yogurt every day would be 0.5 to 1.0 g. A lactose-oxidizing bacterium was isolated from the fermented milk and was identified as Acetobacter orientalis. Washed A. orientalis cells oxidized monosaccharides such as d-glucose at considerable rates, although their activities for substrates such as lactose, maltose, and cellobiose were much lower. When A. orientalis cells were cultivated in cow's milk, they exhibited lactose-oxidizing activity, suggesting that this bacterium was the main organism involved in the production of lactobionic acid in the yogurt.     

Effects of Ca2+ channel antagonists on striatal dopamine and DOPA release, studied by in vivo microdialysis

The chaetotaxy of argentophilic structures on three species of the monogenean genus Gyrodactylus was investigated in an attempt to distinguish species of this genus. Maps were prepared for Gyrodactylus salaris from Scandinavia and compared with two native species of Gyrodactylus parasitising salmonids in Britain, namely Gyrodactylus derjavini and Gyrodactylus truttae. The maps were subsequently refined and analysed for zones of homology and differentiation. The results demonstrate that G. salaris can be readily distinguished by this technique, which is, therefore, of great potential value in the identification of this notifiable pathogen. The key aggregations of sensilla discriminating G. salaris are, ventrally, the antero-ventral set, the medio-lateral set and the postero-lateral set, and, dorsally, the postero-dorsal set.