Preliminary study on the effects of bar placement on the thorax after the nuss procedure for pectus excavatum using bone scintigraphy.

AIM: Bone scintigraphy was performed to elucidate the effects of the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum on the bony thorax. METHODS: Eight boys and 6 girls (5 - 24 years of age) underwent bone scintigraphy, using (99m)Tc-HMDP. Eleven patients were studied 5 to 21 days after the Nuss procedure; 6 were studied 20 to 24 months after the operation before bar removal. Three of 14 were studied twice after the Nuss procedure and before bar removal. RESULTS: In the early postoperative phase, RI accumulation was found at the sternum and ribs in only 1 of 6 patients under 9 years of age, whereas in all 5 older patients, RI had accumulated at the sternum. Scintigrams before bar removal revealed, regardless of age, hot spots at the lateral ribs in contact with the bar and at the costochondral junctions where the bar passed through the intercostal spaces. Furthermore, chest roentgenograms showed the deformed lateral ribs in contact with the bar. CONCLUSIONS: The Nuss procedure creates minute fractures at the sternum and the ribs, especially in older patients. The bar deforms the ribs and restrains the growth of the thorax. Furthermore, it constantly rubs against the ribs and can therefore cause late complications. Bone scintigraphy may determine the appropriate timing for bar removal.     

Preoperative and postoperative assessment of rotational acetabular osteotomy for dysplastic hips in children by three-dimensional surface reconstruction computed tomography imaging

The three-dimensional relationship between the acetabulum and femoral head was evaluated using three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) reconstruction before and after rotational acetabular osteotomy. This method provides exact anatomic information on acetabular coverage so that precise operative planning is more easily made. Evaluation of six dysplastic hips indicated the possible dangers of anterolateral rotational shift of the acetabulum when there is marked posterior deficiency, such as in the case of a high decree of subluxated femoral head covered by a shallow false acetabulum. In these circumstances, it may be safer and preferable to plan a lateral shift instead of an anterolateral shift.     

The effects of personal relationships on facial displays

Previous studies have suggested that facial displays in the presence of others are influenced by the relationship with accompanying persons. In these studies, subjects participated with friends or strangers, without any focus on social interactions between partners. In the current study, pairs of friends or strangers viewed film clips expected to elicit positive and negative affects; the control group participated without partners. We measured synchronous smiles between partners as a social interactive display, in addition to the duration and the frequency of smiles and frowns. Subjective emotion and social motive were also measured. Smiles were facilitated by the presence of a friend than a stranger or the condition of lone participation, regardless of stimulus valence. Synchronous smiles and the communication motive were also enhanced with a friend than with a stranger. These results suggested that the expression of smiles was facilitated by the communication motive and social interactions between partners.     

Characterization of htAKR, a novel gene product in the aldo-keto reductase family specifically expressed in human testis

In human testis, expression of a novel member of the aldo-keto reductase family was identified. Based on its testis-specific expression, we termed this protein human testis aldo-keto reductase (htAKR). In addition to four major isoforms, the existence of multiple alternatively spliced products of htAKR was detected using RT-PCR followed by nested PCR. htAKR was a homologue of mouse liver keto-reductase, AKR1E1, with close similarity in their genomic organizations. htAKR4, the longest isoform, was expressed as a non-fused native form. It exhibited a limited activity toward 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, while no activity toward the steroids or prostaglandins was demonstrated. Using the laser capture microdissection technique and RT-PCR, expression of htAKR was detected in testicular germ cells as well as in interstitial cells. The levels of htAKR mRNA in the tissues obtained from seminoma were much lower than those in normal testes. A significant decline in the htAKR expression was observed when NEC8, a cell line originated from a human testicular germ cell tumour, was exposed to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone. These results indicate that the expression of htAKR, down-regulated in the testicular tumour, is possibly controlled by mitogenic and hormonal signals.     

Effects of Bakumondo-to (Mai-Men-Dong-Tang) on cough sensitivity to capsaicin in asthmatic patients with cough hypersensitivity]

Some patients with bronchial asthma have increased cough sensitivity. In such patients coughing may be an inducer of wheeze. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Bakumondo-to on the cough sensitivity and respiratory tract inflammation in asthmatic patients with increased cough sensitivity. In addition influences of intensity of respiratory tract inflammation, gender, type of asthma, and disease period on the effect of Bakumondo-to on the cough sensitivity were examined. Twenty-one bronchial asthmatics whose cough thresholds to capsaicin were less than 3.9 microM were examined. METHODS: Cough thresholds to capsaicin (concentration of inhaled capsaicin solution causing 5 or more coughs) was measured before and after 2 months or more treatment with Bakumondo-to (9 g/day, TJ-29). Number of eosinophils in peripheral blood, sputum eosinophil ratio, and ECP level in the serum were also measured before and after treatment. RESULTS: Bakumondo-to significantly increased the cough threshold. Although respiratory tract inflammation was not significantly improved, number of eosinophils in peripheral blood, sputum eosinophil ratio and ECP level in the serum were remarkably decreased more than the half. And Bakumondo-to was more effective in asthmatic subjects with severe airway inflammation. Furthermore, a greater effect of it was observed in women. A greater effect was also observed in patients having a disease duration of less than 1 year. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that Bakumondo-to may be an effective therapeutic preparation for coughing in asthmatic patients with cough hypersensitivity.     

Histological examination of beta-tricalcium phosphate graft in human femur

Prominent osteoconductive activity and the biodegradable nature of beta tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) for bone grafts in animal experiments has been reported. A new type of beta-TCP has been manufactured at extraordinarily high purity and has been available as potent bone grafting substitute for clinical use. The histological features of grafted beta-TCP in human bone have been analyzed. A 33-year-old female with a bone tumor of the proximal femur underwent curettage and beta-TCP graft under the diagnosis of probable benign fibrous dysplasia. Four weeks later, the proximal femur, including the grafted beta-TCP was resected because of the final diagnosis of the curettaged materials was osteosarcoma. The resected specimen revealed abundant direct new bone apposition on beta-TCP. There was no cartilaginous tissue or enchondral ossification. Bone formation was more prominent in the periphery of the grafted area than in the center. There was a considerable number of osteoclast-like giant cells surrounding the beta-TCP. This case illustrated that highly purified beta-TCP had prominent osteoconductive activity and biodegradable nature in human bone.     

Immunosuppressive effect of restraint stress on the initiation of allergic rhinitis in mice

BACKGROUND: Exposure to acute stressors modulates both innate and acquired immune function. However, little is known about whether stress has the potential to modulate the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of acute restraint stress on the initiation of allergic rhinitis in a murine model. METHODS: CBA/J mice were repeatedly intranasally sensitized with phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from honeybee venom without adjuvant. Restraint stress was applied using uniform cylinders once a week for a continuous 8-hour period, on five occasions in total. Production of PLA2-specific antibodies and degree of nasal and blood eosinophilia were compared between stressed and control mice. RESULTS: Repeated intranasal sensitization with PLA2 induced PLA2-specific IgE and marked eosinophilia in both the nose and blood in CBA/J mice. Exposure to restraint stress significantly inhibited production of PLA2-specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a. Conversely, the stress exerted no significant effect on eosinophilia. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to acute restraint stress inhibits antigen-specific antibody production, but not local or systemic eosinophilia. The results of this study suggest that acute stress has the potential to modulate the initiation of allergic rhinitis.