We present a case of an infiltrating spinal angiolipoma demonstrating extension into the vertebral body and the spinal epidural space. The infiltration into the epidural space caused myelopathy. About 40 cases of spinal angiolipoma and angiomyolipoma have been reported; however, only a few cases have been the infiltrating type. The radiological findings were similar to those of vertebral hemangioma, but poor enhancement of the angiolipoma on contrast-enhanced computed tomographic scans differentiated between them. The infiltrating epidural tumor was removed, and the clinical symptoms improved remarkably. Total removal of the tumor and stabilization of the involved vertebral body using the anterolateral approach may be desirable when a diagnosis of angiolipoma or angiomyolipoma is confirmed preoperatively.

In rare cases, acute peripheral facial palsy occurs several days after dental treatment and oro-facial surgery. Surgical procedures have been known to trigger reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The present study examined eight patients who exhibited delayed facial palsy after dental treatment or oro-facial surgery. Ramsay Hunt syndrome was diagnosed in three patients and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation without zoster lesions (zoster sine herpete) was diagnosed in three patients either by PCR or serological assay. Therefore, VZV reactivation was detected in 75% (6 of 8) of patients who exhibited delayed facial palsy after dental or oro-facial treatment. The results suggest that VZV reactivation is a major cause of delayed facial palsy after dental treatment or oro-facial surgery.

JC virus lacks an appropriate cell line to support virus replication. The establishment of a JC pseudovirus assembly system could play an alternative role for a virus culture system. COS7 cells and a transfer vector, pcDL-SR alpha 296, were used to express JC viral structural genes. VP231-SR alpha, which encodes VP2/VP3 and VP1, but lacks 137 bp of the 5'-terminus of agnogene, showed both efficient nuclear migration and quantitative expression of the major capsid protein VP1. JC pseudovirus assembly was observed in the nucleus of VP231-SR alpha transfected cells. Evidence of JC pseudovirus assembly is presented. The further utilization of this system, which includes a study for the viral morphogenesis, serological diagnosis, as well as the potential application for gene transfer vector, is discussed.

A case of cerebral meningioangiomatosis with rare cyst formation is reported. A 14-year-old boy without any stigmata of neurofibromatosis type 2 presented intractable complex partial and generalized seizures since the age of 12 years. Neuroradiological studies showed an abnormal cystic mass with calcification in the left frontal lobe of the cerebrum. The tumor was located in the leptomeninges and cerebral cortex. The patient underwent surgical treatment because medical treatment with phenytoin and sodium valproate was not sufficient to control the seizures. An intraoperative electrocorticogram revealed that epileptic foci were recorded from the cortex, which was adjacent to the lesion. Histopathology showed specific features of meningioangiomatosis with meningioma-like nodules. The patient did not have any seizures with anticonvulsants after surgery. It is important to distinguish meningioangiomatosis from other possible cortical lesions and epileptic foci should be carefully considered before resection, because it is a benign and surgically manageable cause of seizures.

Recent advances in genetic technologies have enabled us to make proper diagnosis of various diseased in order to entertain efficient treatment. Major chromosomal abnormalities include structural abnormalities (deletion,translocation) and numbers of autosomes (aneuploidy of autosomes and sex chromosomes). Single gene defects include autosomal dominant disorders, X-linked disorders, mutation in single gene defects (gene deletion, point mutation) and mitochondrial disorders. Genetic alterations for oncogenesis include (1)amplification, mutation and translocation of oncogenes, (2)deletion and mutation of suppressor genes, and (3)mutator genes. Recently, the Mistry of Health and Welfare of Japan has proposed clarification of etiologic gene abnormalities for major diseases such as cancers, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, neurologic disease (such as Alzheimer disease). Especially, cancer therapy will focus on "tailor made therapy" based on gene analysis. In US, gene analysis has been of major commercial value for gene therapy. Histochemistry is expected to play an important role in genetic analyses at tissue and cell levels. The genetic technologies include (1)fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) for chromosomal abnormalities, (2)in situ hybridization (ISH), in situ PCR, and in situ RT-PCR for the changes of DNA and RNA, (3)enhanced immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy for the gene products (proteins). Instrumentation includes confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), lader capture microdissection, DNA chip analyzer and staining automation. Among the gene based therapy for cancer, Herceptin is of special interests. It is immune based anti-cancer therapy by using humanized anti-HER2/neu monoclonal antibody. To select the effective cases with wide spread mammary carcinoma, IHC or FISH is used to analyze HER2/neu overexpression. In summary, histochemical technologies are expected to play essential roles in gene analysis both at basic and clinical fields.