Recent observations have demonstrated the presence of activated T lymphocytes and macrophages in human atherosclerotic lesions. Cells found within these lesions produce cytokines that alter vascular homeostasis in a manner that promotes atherogenesis. To elucidate the role of these immunocompetent cells in human atherosclerosis, the localization of various cytokines with an analysis of immunophenotypic features of the cellular infiltrates was studied in normal aortas from children; and in later phases of the disease (including fatty streaks and fibrous or atheromatous plaques). Semi-quantitative analysis of cytokine-expressing cells was also investigated with serial sectioning. In 4 of 9 young subjects, the grossly normal aorta contained relatively cell-rich areas which were located preferentially around the ostia of intercostal arteries and were composed of isolated or layered T lymphocytes and macrophages. In these prelesional areas, interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) were detected in the cytoplasm of the infiltrating cells, whereas no detectable reactivity was noted for IL-2, IL-6, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or lymphotoxin (LT). In fatty streaks and full-grown atheromas including "cap" and "shoulder" regions, various numbers of T lymphocytes, macrophages and macrophage foam cells were present. In these lesion areas, especially where the cellular infiltrates were numerous, macrophage foam cells and smooth muscle cells expressed not only IL-1 and TNF but also IL-6. The ratio of IL-2R positive cells showed a tendency to decrease with advance of the disease process. Electron-microscopic examination of lesion areas demonstrated ultrastructural aspects of the cognate cell-to-cell interaction, as shown by the direct apposition of lymphocytes to macrophages or macrophage foam cells. These results suggest that a specific in situ, cell mediated hypersensitivity plays a pivotal role in the nascent as well as the progression stages of human atherosclerosis.

No abstract

Elastography has a significantly higher sensitivity for the detection of prostate cancer than the conventionally used examinations including DRE and TRUS. It is a useful real-time diagnostic method because it is not invasive, and simultaneous evaluation is possible while performing TRUS.

Real-time elastography in conjunction with B-mode ultrasonography significantly improves the detection of prostate cancer. One of the characteristic findings of elastography is its excellent detection of anterior tumors. The low detection rate of high-grade tumors in this analysis was likely due to the predominance of high-grade tumors in a peripheral location compared to the anterior location of the low-grade tumors.

A 47-year-old woman was admitted because of hypermenorrhea. Transvaginal ultrasonography revealed an ovarian tumor and myoma uteri, and total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Histology revealed signet-ring cell carcinoma in the right ovary. In order to find out the primary site of this tumor, gastroendoscopy was performed after the operation, and showed a IIc lesion in the lower body of the stomach; biopsy specimens showed signet-ring cell carcinoma similar to that in the right ovary. Total gastrectomy revealed that the lesion was an early gastric cancer confined to the mucosa, but there was lymphatic invasion slightly beneath the muscularis mucosa, with regional lymph node metastasis. In the light of a review of the seven cases of early gastric cancer with Krukenberg tumor previously reported, lymphatic metastasis seemed to be the most likely pathway of ovarian metastasis in early gastric cancers.