Japanese Versus Non-Japanese Patients with Transient Ischemic Attack or Minor Stroke: Subanalysis of TIA registry.org

BackgroundTIAregistry.org is an international cohort of patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke within 7 days before enrollment in the registry. Main analyses of 1-year follow-up data have been reported.⁵ We conducted subanalysis on the baseline and 1-year follow-up data of Japanese patients.MethodsThe patients were classified into 2 groups based on Japanese ethnicity, Japanese (345) and non-Japanese (3238), and their baseline data and 1-year event rates were compared. We also determined risk factors and predictors of 1-year stroke.ResultsCurrent smoking, regular alcohol drinking, intracranial arterial stenosis, and small vessel occlusion; and hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, and extracranial arterial stenosis were more and less common among Japanese patients, respectively. Stroke risk was higher and TIA risk was lower at 1-year follow-up among Japanese patients. The baseline risk factors for recurrent stroke were diabetes, alcohol drinking, and large artery atherosclerosis. Independent predictors of 1-year stroke risk were prior congestive heart failure and alcohol consumption.ConclusionsThe two populations of patients featured differences in risk factors, stroke subtypes, and outcome events. Predictors of recurrent stroke among Japanese patients included congestive heart failure and regular alcohol drinking. Strategies to attenuate residual risk of stroke aside from adherence to current guidelines should take our Japanese-patient specific findings into account.     

The prognostic significance of nuclear DNA content in non-small-cell lung carcinoma

The nuclear DNA content of paraffin-embedded specimens of primary non-small-cell lung carcinomas was analysed using flow cytometry in 210 patients (80 squamous cell carcinomas, 99 adenocarcinomas, 19 large cell carcinomas and 15 others). The relationship between nuclear DNA content and prognostic factors was studied using multivariate analysis with Cox's proportional hazard model. 1) The frequency of DNA aneuploidy was 77.3% among 210 patients, and it significantly (p less than 0.05) increased with advanced stage and the presence of lymph node metastasis. 2) The patients with DNA aneuploid tumors had a significantly (p less than 0.001) less favorable prognosis than those with DNA diploid tumors among 179 patients with non-small-cell lung carcinomas. Similar results were demonstrated in 79 patients with stage I carcinomas and in 85 patients who underwent absolute curative resection. 3) Multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazard model showed that DNA ploidy was an independent prognostic factor for survival. Especially in the patients with absolute curative resection, DNA ploidy was the most important prognostic factor. In conclusion, flow cytometric nuclear DNA content analysis provided useful biological information, and DNA ploidy was an important and major independent prognostic factor in non-small-cell lung carcinoma.     

Identification of secretin diastereoisomers produced during synthesis

The byproducts P-1 and P-2, which were produced during the synthesis of porcine secretin, were isolated in pure form from the crude secretin by HPLC. These were identified by a combination of amino acid analysis, enzymatic digestion, and isocratic or linear gradient reversed-phase (RP)-HPLC. The amino acid compositions of P1 and P2, determined by amino acid analysis after acid hydrolysis, were found to be the same as those of porcine secretin without distinction between L-and D-amino acids. But, HPLC of their digestive fragments with trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin differed from that of secretin. The fragments, S7-12 of P-1 and S13-21 of P-2 were determined to be different from the corresponding fragments obtained from secretin by HPLC analysis of their digestive fragments. The amino acid composition of each acid hydrolysate, following digestion with D-amino acid oxidase, was found to have less leucine or alanine content than secretin. The HPLC analysis of the fragments from P-1 and P-2 by tryptic and alpha-chymotryptic digestion showed that they are the same as those from synthetic D-Leu10 secretin or D-Ala17 secretin, respectively. Consequently, P-1 and P-2 are concluded to be the secretin diastereoisomers, D-Leu10 and D-Ala17 secretin, respectively.     

Contrast-enhanced intraoperative ultrasonography of small hepatocellular carcinomas

Nine patients with small hepatocellular carcinomas, ranging up to 2 cm in size (phi: 1.7 +/- 0.2 cm, mean +/- SD), have been encountered, and in two of these patients the cancer was not identifiable by intraoperative ultrasonography. Thus to achieve a better detection of such small hepatic cancers, enhanced intraoperative ultrasonography was tested. Detection by enhanced intraoperative ultrasonography proved successful in all cases. These preliminary results indicate the potential of carbon dioxide as a contrast agent to enhance intraoperative visualization of small liver cancers.     

Immediate changes in subcellular structures of transplanted tumors following photodynamic and laser hyperthermic therapy

Background and Objective: To further understand the precise process of the tumor cell degeneration after photodynamic therapy (PDT), laser hyperthermic therapy (LH), and combined treatments using an Nd:YAG laser. It is important to examine initial morphological alteration of tumor cells after these treatments. Study Design/Materials and Methods: In this study, nude mice bearing HeLa cell tumors were treated with PDT, LH, and combined treatments of the two. Tumor tissues obtained immediately after these treatments were analyzed using electron microscopy and morphometry. Results: In the combined treatments, which produced more severe effects on tumor cells, morphological features of apoptosis such as cytoplasmic condensation, blebs, and apoptotic bodies appeared in the cells, although the typical alteration in the nuclear chromatin was not seen. Conclusion: Cytoplasmic alterations may proceed more rapidly than nuclear alterations in the cellular degeneration induced by the single or combined treatments of PDT and LH.     

Combined treatment of invasive bladder cancer by intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy of cisplatin with or without other anticancer agents and concurrent radiotherapy--initial response and side effects]

Fourteen patients with invasive bladder cancer were treated by bilateral internal iliac artery infusion of cisplatin, with or without other anticancer agents, and concurrent radiotherapy. Angiotensin II was simultaneously infused in 10 cases. Of the 14 patients, complete response and partial response were achieved in 9 (64%) and 3, respectively. Hematuria was controlled in all 8 patients, and pain was relieved in 3 of 4 patients. Side effects were observed in 8 patients: appetite loss in 8, nausea and/or vomiting in 7, and leukocytopenia in 6 patients, in 3 of whom radiotherapy had to be intermittent because of severe leukocytopenia (less than 2000/mm3). However, restoration of leukocytopenia occurred one week later. Thus, intra-arterial anticancer agents including cisplatin together with concurrent radiation may be one of the most effective therapies for invasive bladder cancer.     

Primary aortoduodenal fistula caused by duodenal tuberculosis without an abdominal aortic aneurysm: Report of a case

A 66-year-old man died of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by a fistula between the third portion of the duodenum and the abdominal aorta. An autopsy revealed that duodenal tuberculosis had resulted in the development of a fistula into the aorta with no pathological changes, and no active pulmonary tuberculosis was found. Duodenal tuberculosis and primary aortoduodenal fistula (ADF) without an aneurysm are both extremely rare. Thus, we report herein a unique case of primary aortoduodenal fistula without an abdominal aortic aneurysm, but associated with duodenal tuberculosis, and review the current literature.     

Effects of Peak Inspiratory Flow on Development of Ventilator-induced Lung Injury in Rabbits

Background: A lung-protecting strategy is essential when ventilating acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome patients. Current emphasis is on limiting inspiratory pressure and volume. This study was designed to investigate the effect of peak inspiratory flow on lung injury.

Methods: Twenty-four rabbits were anesthetized, tracheostomized, ventilated with a Siemens Servo 300, and randomly assigned to three groups as follows: 1) the pressure regulated volume control group received pressure-regulated volume control mode with inspiratory time set at 20% of total cycle time, 2) the volume control with 20% inspiratory time group received volume-control mode with inspiratory time of 20% of total cycle time, and 3) the volume control with 50% inspiratory time group received volume-control mode with inspiratory time of 50% of total cycle time. Tidal volume was 30 ml/kg, respiratory rate was 20 breaths/min, and positive end-expiratory pressure was 0 cm H2O. After 6 h mechanical ventilation, the lungs were removed for histologic examination.

Results: When mechanical ventilation started, peak inspiratory flow was 28.8 +/- 1.4 l/min in the pressure regulated volume control group, 7.5 +/- 0.5 l/min in the volume control with 20% inspiratory time group, and 2.6 +/- 0.3 l/min in the volume control with 50% inspiratory time group. Plateau pressure did not differ significantly among the groups. Gradually during 6 h, Pao2 in the pressure regulated volume control group decreased from 688 +/- 39 to a significantly lower 304 +/- 199 mm Hg (P < 0.05) (mean +/- SD). The static compliance of the respiratory system for the pressure regulated volume control group also ended significantly lower after 6 h (P < 0.05). Wet to dry ratio for the pressure regulated volume control group was larger than for other groups (P < 0.05). Macroscopically and histologically, the lungs of the pressure regulated volume control group showed more injury than the other groups.     

Urinary dysfunction and autonomic control in amyloid neuropathy

Abstract Uro-neurological assessment was performed in four patients with small-fiber neuropathy due to amyloidosis (2 transthyretin-type/2 immunoglobulin light-chain-type). Voiding difficulties were due to detrusor weakness and impaired bladder sensation. In two patients cholinesterase inhibition treatment caused urge incontinence, indicating detrusor denervation supersensitivity. The underlying mechanisms of urinary dysfunction seem to involve postganglionic cholinergic and afferent somatic nerves.