Urinary bladder carcinoma producing granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF): A case report with immunohistochemistry

A rare case of urinary bladder carcinoma with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) production was reported. In an 83-year-old female, marked neutrophilia in the peripheral blood decreased from 132,500/mm³ to 3,300/mm³ after tumour resection. The tumour was a transitional cell carcinoma. The serum G-CSF level reduced from 238 pg/ml pre-operatively to normal (60 pg/ml) after the operation. Immunohistochemical investigation of the resected tumour with monoclonal antibody specific for G-CSF revealed positive staining in the carcinoma cells, confirming G-CSF secretion.     

Validity of Electrode Placement at Fpz to Detect Alpha Wave

Abstract: The possibility on placing electrodes at Fpz-A₂ instead of C₃-A₂ was investigated to obtain a more stable configuration avoiding obstruction by the hair. Our original system of alpha wave detection by a microcomputer was used, and a total of 22 all-night hypnograms of five healthy young students waa recorded. Pearson's moment correlation coefficients of alpha wave % between the two positions were 0.780–0.948. Except for one subject, alpha wave % taken at Fpz-A₂ tended to be 3–5% lower than that at C₃-A₂. The above analysis indicates that using EEG electrode position of Fpz-A₂ is valid and useful as a stable electrode configuration for a long-time monitoring.     

Cerebral oxygenation changes in response to post-hemodialysis standing

Journal of Artificial Organs - Few reports have examined the association between changes in cerebral oxygenation and clinical factors, including blood pressure (BP), upon standing after...     

Relationship between self-rating and polygraphic sleep parameters — analysis of compiled data from 12 young Japanese adults —

An examination of the relationship of the self-rating sleep score to polygraphic sleep parameters was conducted. The self-rating sleep questionnaire, OSA, includes five sleep quality factors: sleepiness (Fl), sleep maintenance without interruption (F2), worry about daily life or poor emotional condition (F3), integrated or perceived sleep feeling (F4) and sleep initiation or induction (F5). Polygraphic sleep parameters including each sleep stage in minutes were used. If intercorrelation coefficients exceeded 0.8, only one of the related parameters was selected for multivariate analysis. Twelve male students slept a total of 88 nights, among which the first night was not included, in an experimental room. When absolute values of Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient of not less than 0.4 were tentatively selected, the following pairs were extracted: F2 score and S1 (-0.423) or S3+S4 (0.409), F5 score and sleep latency (-0.439). Deeper sleep was closely associated with sleep maintenance without interruption. Agreement between self-rating and a polygraphic sleep parameter was recognized between the F5 score and sleep latency. Each OSA factor score was predicted by other polygraphic sleep parameters using multiple regression analysis. MT significantly contributed to the Fl, F3 and F4 scores. The number of stage shifts per night significantly contributed to the Fl and F3 scores, and the number of sleep spindles significantly contributed to the F5 score. Though prediction of sleep quality by polygraphic sleep parameters is limited, the association between concrete subjective and objective sleep parameters was clarified as mentioned above, and their practical meaning was partially elucidated.     

Ultrasound biomicroscopic analysis of the effect of pilocarpine on the anterior chamber angle

Background: This study was carried out to determine the effects of pilocarpine on the anterior chamber angle in healthy volunteers. Methods: We measured changes in anterior chamber depth (ACD), trabecular-iris angle (TIA), angle opening distance at 250 and 500 m from the scleral spur (AOD250 and AOD500), and iris thickness using ultrasound biomicroscopy in 48 eyes of 48 normal volunteers (ages 18–57 years, mean 34.8 years) before and 1 h after instillation of 2% pilocarpine. Results: Pilocarpine altered the TIA by –18.6° to + 10.5° (mean –4.16°), and change in the TIA increased significantly and linearly in relation with decrease in the pretreatment TIA (r = 0.929). Pilocarpine altered AOD250 change by –136 to +94 m (mean –38 m) and AOD500 by –151 to +157 m (mean –42 m); changes in the AOD250 and AOD500 were significantly correlated to the pretreatment AOD250 and AOD500 values, respectively (r = 0.923 andr = 0.896, respectively). The pilocarpine-induced change in the ACD showed a linear relationship to the pretreatment ACD (r = 0.887). The changes in the TIA, AOD250 and AOD500 showed greater increases in association with lower pretreatment ACD (r = 0.848,r = 0.891,r = 0.842) and smaller change in the ACD (r = 0.834,r = 0.839,r = 0.812). Conclusions: The response of the anterior chamber angle to pilocarpine, narrowing or widening, depended on its pretreatment state. The ability to predict the pilocarpine-induced change in the angle before the instillation of pilocarpine would be helpful in treating patients with glaucoma.     

Retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury attenuated by blocking of adhesion molecules of vascular endothelium

PURPOSE: To evaluate quantitatively the effects of blocking of adhesion molecules (P-selectin or intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1]) on leukocyte dynamics in the retinal microcirculation in vivo during ischemia-reperfusion injury and the therapeutic efficacy of the blocking of adhesion molecules on retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Retinal ischemia was induced for 60 minutes in anesthetized pigmented rats by temporary ligation of the optic nerve. P-selectin or ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) was administered at 5 minutes before reperfusion. At 4, 12, and 24 hours after onset of reperfusion, leukocyte behavior in the retinal microcirculation was evaluated in vivo with acridine orange digital fluorography. After 7 or 14 days of reperfusion, retinal damage was evaluated histologically. RESULTS: P-selectin mAb significantly inhibited leukocyte rolling along the major retinal veins after reperfusion. Subsequently, the number of accumulated leukocytes decreased in the P-selectin-inhibited rats. ICAM-1 mAb also inhibited leukocyte accumulation during the reperfusion period in a more substantial manner than P-selectin mAb. Histologic examination demonstrated the protective effect of the blocking of P-selectin or ICAM-1. In accordance with a reduction in leukocyte accumulation, the protective effect of mAb on retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury was more substantial in ICAM-1-inhibited rats. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates the inhibitory effect of P-selectin and ICAM-1 mAb on leukocyte accumulation and subsequent tissue injury during retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.     

Quantitative analysis of diabetic macular edema after scatter laser photocoagulation with the scanning retinal thickness analyzer

PURPOSE: To define the effect of scatter laser photocoagulation on foveal retinal thickness. METHODS: A commercial scanning retinal thickness analyzer was used to measure retinal thickness. The foveal retinal thickness was measured at the central area of the fundus (0.4 x 0.4 mm). The method was applied to 20 consecutive patients (mean age, 52.4 +/-16.9 years) with diabetic retinopathy. Measurements were performed before and 6 weeks after scatter photocoagulation. Patients were examined by fluorescein angiography and slit-lamp biomicroscopy to detect macular edema. RESULTS: Mean foveal thickness before scatter photocoagulation was 187+/-45 microm, increasing to 221+/-46 microm after the treatment (P = 0.0001). The foveal thickness increased in 12 eyes (60%). Laser treatment increased macular permeability in two eyes (10%). Biomicroscopic examination revealed central macular thickening in one eye (5%). Visual acuity was reduced in four eyes (20%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that subclinical macular edema occurs after scatter laser photocoagulation. The retinal thickness analyzer is a sensitive tool for early detection of macular edema after laser treatment, because increases in retinal thickness as small as 34 microm cannot be assessed by slit-lamp biomicroscopy.     

Lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 is a cell-adhesion molecule involved in endotoxin-induced inflammation

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is a major endothelial receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and is assumed to play a proatherogenic role in atherosclerosis. LOX-1 expression is induced by inflammatory cytokines as well as by proatherogenic stimuli. LOX-1 protein binds agedapoptotic cells, activated platelets, and bacteria, suggesting that it may have diverse activities in vivo. Here, we reveal a role for LOX-1 in endotoxin-induced inflammation. In a model of endotoxemia, injection of a high dose of endotoxin into rats induced leukopenia within 1 h and death of the animals within 24 h. Preadministration of anti-LOX-1 antibody reduced the degree of leukopenia and completely rescued the animals, whereas control IgG did not. In a model of low-dose endotoxin-induced uveitis, anti-LOX-1 antibody efficiently suppressed leukocyte infiltration and protein exudation. In situ videomicroscopic analyses of leukocyte interactions with retinal veins revealed that anti-LOX-1 antibody reduced the number of rolling leukocytes and increased the velocity of rolling, suggesting that LOX-1 functions as a vascular tethering ligand. The ability of LOX-1 to capture leukocytes under physiologic shear was confirmed in an in vitro flow model. Thus, LOX-1 is an adhesion molecule involved in leukocyte recruitment and may represent an attractive target for modulation of endotoxin-induced inflammation.     

Blood supply of the sinus node artery in beagle dogs

Summary Postmortem coronary angiography was performed in 20 beagles and 15 mongrels, and the origin and distribution of the sinus node arteries (SNAs) were subsequently investigated using soft X-ray radiography, the tissue clearing method, and histological examination. In 19 of 20 beagles, the SNAs consisted of a single atrial branch originating from the right coronary artery, and the distribution pattern of the atrial branch seemed to be uniform. In contrast, the following three different patterns were recognized in the atrial branches forming the SNAs of mongrels: (1) distribution by two atrial branches, i.e., one originating from the right coronary artery and the other from the left circumflex artery, (2) dual distribution by two atrial branches originating from the right coronary artery, and (3) distribution by a single atrial branch originating from the right coronary artery or from the left circumflex artery. In 26 of the 30 dogs which were histologically examined, the SNAs ran outside of the sinus node and were not centrally located. In the beagles, the proximal atrial branch from the right coronary artery reached the atrioventricuolar node area and supplied blood to the atrioventricular node together with the arterial branches derived from the anterior septal artery and posterior septal artery. In addition, the arterial branch of the SNAs reached the atrioventricular junction area. These findings should contribute to clinical, pharmacological, and pathological studies of the cardiovascular system, including studies on cardiac arrhythmias in beagles.