Twenty-three acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) patients with t(8;21) chromosomal abnormality, all classified as M2 (French-American-British [FAB] classification), were investigated. Blastic cells from all patients were positive for the stem cell-associated antigens, CD34 and HLA-DR, and the immature myeloid antigens, CD13 and CD33. The nonblastic leukemic cells expressed the more mature myeloid antigens, CD11b and CD15, with loss of the immature phenotype. The incidence of positivities for the stem cell-associated antigens, CD34 and HLA-DR, in t(8;21) AML cells was significantly higher in comparison with those in other AML showing granulocytic differentiation (M2 or M3). AML cells with t(8;21) also showed some phenotypic abnormalities. Frequent expression of CD19 was found in the blastic population of t(8;21) AML (18 of 23 cases) without other B-cell antigens and Ig gene rearrangements. CD19 expression was confirmed by immunocytochemistry and Northern blotting. The CD19+ blastic cells coexpressed both CD34 and HLA-DR. In addition, CD33+ cells among the blastic fraction in t(8;21) AML cells were fewer in number than in those of M2 or M3 AML without t(8;21). Our findings indicate that leukemic blasts of t(8;21) AML commonly express CD19 while preserving the stem cell-associated antigens, and differentiate into the granulocytic pathway with discordant maturation such as low CD33 expression.

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Background: In this study, we examined the construct validity, concurrent validity concerning other standard scales, intrarater reliability, and changes in scores at 12 weeks of the previously developed ABC Dementia Scale (ABC-DS), a novel assessment tool for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: Data were obtained from 312 patients diagnosed with either AD or mild cognitive impairment. The scores on the ABC-DS and standard scales were compared. Results: The 13 items of the ABC-DS are grouped into three domains, and the domain-level scores were highly correlated with the corresponding conventional scales. Statistically significant changes in assessment scores after 12 weeks were observed for the total ABC-DS scores. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the ABC-DS to have good validity and reliability, and its usefulness in busy clinical settings.

The interaction of glutamine availability and glucose homeostasis during and after exercise was investigated, measuring whole body glucose kinetics with [3-3H]glucose and net organ balances of glucose and amino acids (AA) during basal, exercise, and postexercise hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp periods in six multicatheterized dogs. Dogs were studied twice in random treatment order: once with glutamine (12 micromol.kg(-1).min(-1); Gln) and once with saline (Con) infused intravenously during and after exercise. Plasma glucose fell by 7 mg/dl with exercise in Con (P < 0.05), but it did not fall with Gln. Gln further stimulated whole body glucose production and utilization an additional 24% above a normal exercise response (P < 0.05). Net hepatic uptake of glutamine and alanine was greater with Gln than Con during exercise (P < 0.05). Net hepatic glucose output was increased sevenfold during exercise with Gln (P < 0.05) but not with Con. Net hindlimb glucose uptake was increased similarly during exercise in both groups (P < 0.05). During the postexercise hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic period, glucose production decreased to near zero with Con, but it did not decrease below basal levels with Gln. Gln increased glucose utilization by 16% compared with Con after exercise (P < 0.05). Furthermore, net hindlimb glucose uptake in the postexercise period was increased approximately twofold vs. basal with Gln (P < 0.05) but not with Con. Net hepatic uptake of glutamine during the postexercise period was threefold greater for Gln than Con (P < 0.05). In conclusion, glutamine availability modulates glucose homeostasis during and after exercise, which may have implications for postexercise recovery.

A scabies burrow is created by a mature female mite laying eggs through the stratum corneum, representing a kind of scabies eruption. We have noticed that the edges of the scabies burrow sometime appear as blackish‐gray lines. We named these lines the “gray‐edged line” sign, as a new feature of scabies burrows. The gray‐edged line sign has the following two tendencies: (i) it is rarely seen on the palm or sole; and (ii) when the burrow follows a curved course, the gray‐edged line often forms on the outer wall. Explaining the formation of this sign from clinical findings was difficult, so the aim of the present study was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the gray‐edged line sign. This retrospective study involved collection of data from electronic medical records of patients treated for scabies in our department between April 2015 and February 2020. We treated 32 scabies patients, including 4 patients with the gray‐edged line sign. We analyzed clinical features, dermoscopy, histopathology and special stains. Fontana‐Masson staining showed melanin staining in three parts: feces; some keratinocytes around the scabies burrows; and the mouth and legs of the scabies mite. The gray‐edged line sign appears to represent mite feces containing melanin.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with spindle cell components is extremely rare and often misdiagnosed as carcinoma or sarcoma. Here, we present a case of primary DLBCL with spindle cell components arising in the liver, for which a preoperative diagnosis by needle biopsies was unsuccessful. The patient was a 70-year-old man with a continuous cough. Thoracic computed tomography incidentally detected a mass of 5 cm in diameter in his liver. The initial and second needle biopsies from the liver mass were pathologically diagnosed as suspicious for sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma. He underwent an extended left hepatectomy. Histological examination revealed a diffuse or epithelioid arrangement of round and polygonal cells, mixed with the fascicles of spindle-shaped cells. Immunohistochemically, all the morphological types of tumor cells showed positive reactions for a lymphocytic marker (CD45RB) and B-cell markers (CD20 and CD79a). Double-immunostaining revealed that the spindle-shaped tumor cells expressed CD20, but never expressed alpha-smooth muscle actin. Malignant lymphoma with a spindle cell morphology is quite uncommon, and this variant can be a diagnostic pitfall, especially in tiny biopsy specimens. We emphasize that pathologists should be reminded of lymphoma as a differential diagnosis of spindle cell tumors.

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Anti‐obesity effects of dietary supplemented amino acid have been reported. Dietary supplementation of glutamine, alanine, or leucine decreases high‐fat diet induced obesity in C57BL/6J mice. It was reported that histidine supplementation suppressed food intake and fat accumulation in Wistar rats. And it was shown that dietary arginine supplementation reduced fat mass in Zucker diabetic fatty rats. However there is no information about the anti‐obesity effects of other amino acids than above mentioned. Therefore, we conducted this series of experiments to compare the anti‐obesity effects of 20 kinds of proteinogenic amino acids. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high‐fat diet supplemented with either one of 20 proteinogenic amino acids (1‐6 %) for 4 to 8 weeks. Body weight, food intake, epididymal fat weight, and plasma triglyceride concentration were measured. Results showed that supplementation with any one of cystine (3%), histidine (5%), leucine (3%), lysine HCl (3%), threonine (3%), and tryptophan (3%) suppressed body weight gain and visceral fat deposition. Reduction of food intake was observed in cystine and histidine group but not in leucine, lysine, threonine, and tryptophan group. Plasma triglyceride concentration reduced only in lysine group. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of any one of leucine, lysine, threonine, and tryptophan prevents high‐fat diet induced obesity without reduction in food intake, which suggests increased energy expenditure. Among these amino acids, lysine is the most potent amino acid to reduce adiposity, since it decreases diet induced obesity as well as hyperlipidemia.