1‐(2‐Hydroxyethyl)‐2‐imidazolidinone,a heparanase and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor,improves epidermal basement membrane structure and epidermal barrier function

Daily exposure to sunlight is known to affect the structure and function of the epidermal basement membrane (BM), as well as epidermal differentiation and epidermal barrier function. The aim of this study is to clarify whether the inhibition of BM‐degrading enzymes such as heparanase and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP‐9) can improve the epidermal barrier function of facial skin, which is exposed to the sun on a daily basis. 1‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐2‐imidazolidinone (HEI) was synthesized as an inhibitor of both heparanase and MMP‐9. HEI inhibited not only the BM damage at the DEJ but also epidermal proliferation, differentiation, water contents and transepidermal water loss abnormalities resulting from ultraviolet B (UVB). This was determined in this study by the use of UVB‐induced human cultured skins as compared with the control without HEI. Moreover, topical application of HEI improved epidermal barrier function by increasing water content and decreasing transepidermal water loss in daily sun‐exposed facial skin as compared with non‐treated skins. These results suggest that the inhibition of both heparanase and MMP‐9 is an effective way to care for regularly sun‐exposed facial skin by protecting the BM from damage.     

Alcohol dependence syndrome and BDIM (before-discharge intervention method)--report 4, the family members' self-reports about BDIM]

One hundred fifty-three inpatients with alcohol dependence syndrome were treated with the structured BDIM (Before-Discharge Intervention Method). 82 patients of them have participated to self-help group meetings or kept having therapy as our outpatients or inpatients during the study period. We chose the families of the 82 patients as our study subject Out of the study subjects who took part in BDIM, 64 families (117 persons) answered our questionnaire. Among them 63 families (101 persons) gave their described answers of impressions and opinions about BDIM, which were summarized as follows. (1) Through BDIM the family members gained second thought on their alcoholic family member (IP: identified patient) and they could tell their new view to IP. BDIM enabled them to tell IP their sincere feeling and hope for recovery of IP. BDIM empowered both IP and IP's family members. (2) The family members became to know IP's orientation on his or her disease. They came to know IP's denial and understand him or her as he or she was. (3) The family members felt emotional ties among themselves and IP through BDIM. When the family members of a dysfunctional family took part together in BDIM, they could know the feelings, thoughts, experiences and hopes one another. The family members had a precious experience of mutual understanding among themselves and IP to hope for recovery together. (4) The family members appreciated BDIM as a effective therapy. In BDIM many of them regarded highly of giving their letters to IP as a useful method to convey their feeling and thoughts calmly to IP. (5) On the other hand some family members pointed out the difficulty for themselves to write on BDIM. For family members who are not good at writing a letter or tend only to blame IP through their letters, writing and giving letters to IP is not appropriate as a therapy. If family members feel strong anxiety or fear, it is safe not to practice BDIM.     

An innovative method to measure skin pigmentation

Background/purpose: It is crucial to establish an accurate method for measuring skin pigmentation in cosmetic science and clinical dermatology. Here, we report a non-invasive precise method for measuring skin melanin content.
Methods: In order to determine the concentrations of melanin and hemoglobin in skin, we used the spectrum resolution (SR) method. In brief, the absorption spectrum of the skin was calculated from the reflection spectrum using a spectrophotometer. The concentrations of melanin and hemoglobin were then determined using a multiple regression analysis, assuming that the absorption spectrum of the skin is expressed as a linear summation of the absorptions of melanin and hemoglobin according to the Lambert–Beer law. The skin changes in the volar forearm, which had been irradiated by ultraviolet rays (UV), were observed daily by the SR method.
Results: A multiple regression analysis with an absorption spectrum of 500–700 nm was performed. The multiple correlation coefficient was 0.993, resulting in a satisfactory precise estimate of the concentrations of melanin. After UV irradiation, the concentration of melanin monitored by the SR method increased until 8 days and decreased gradually afterwards.
Conclusions: The SR method allows the evaluation of the changes of epidermal melanin induced by UV irradiation.     

Thoracic duct cyst in supraclavicular region.

A 28-year-old female attended an outpatient clinic in October, 1989, because of a tumor in the left supraclavicular fossa, detected in a health examination. Following exploratory puncture of the tumor which yielded milky-white fluid, suggesting a cyst in the thoracic duct, she was admitted to our department. The cyst was unilocular measuring about 6 cm in diameter, and the fluid content was chyle-rich in lipids. Lymphography demonstrated a lymphatic structure adjacent to the lesion and scattered lymph vessels on the cyst surface. On November 16 the cyst was resected. A restiform structure was observed between the cyst and the thoracic duct, but the presence or absence of communication was unclear. The histological diagnosis was thoracic duct cyst. Thoracic duct cyst occurring in the cervical region is very rare. Our case may provide useful information as to its pathogenesis and the mode of retention of cyst fluid.     

Concomitant mitral valve repair and left ventricular reconstruction in a patient with chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation and inferior left ventricular aneurysm

The surgical approach to ischemic mitral regurgitation with concomitant inferior left ventricular aneurysm remains uncertain in terms of the indication for operation and the short-and long-term outcomes. We performed concomitant mitral valve repair, left ventricular reconstruction, and aortic valve replacement on a 71-year-old male with severe ischemic mitral regurgitation, inferior left ventricular aneurysm, and degenerative aortic regurgitation. Postoperative status was in New York Heart Association functional class I without mitral regurgitation 8 months after operation. We discuss, and review the procedures reported in the literature.     

Airway troubles related to the double-lumen endobronchial tube in thoracic surgery

Purpose Several case reports indicate critical respiratory complications in relation to the double-lumen endobronchial tube (DLT). A prospective survey for the airway problems in using the DLT is presented. Methods One hundred adult patients undergoing thoracotomy for lung cancer were investigated. Tube malposition and airway obstruction were searched using a fiber-optic scope. The endobronchial cuff was positioned just below the trachcal carina while the trachea was intubated with a DLT (Rüsch). The distances of displacement, from the tracheal carina to the bronchial cuff, were measured during anesthesia using an epidural catheter, which had marks every 5 mm. The distances for correcting the tube position were measured at both the bronchial cuff and the level of the teethPaO₂,PaCO₂ andSPO₂ were also measured. Results Malposition (displacement over 5 mm from the correct position) was found in 42 patients, and 40 of them were in a withdrawal direction, occurring at the postural change and during one-lung ventilation, especially during manipulation of the lung hilum. Correcting distances at the level of the teeth were 15.3–3-times longer than those at the bronchial cuff. Airway deformities and gradual withdrawal of the bronchial cuff were found in association with surgical manipulation. Obstruction occurred at the tips of the tracheal tube in four patients and the bronchial tube in six patients, and at the tip of both in two patients. Hypoxemia (PaO₂<60 mmHg) occurred in four patients and hypercapnea (PaCO₂>60 mm Hg) in two patients. Conclusion Most of the DLT obstructions were associated with withdrawal malposition. Great attention to DLT displacement and airway deformity is advised.     

Cyclosporine overcomes cold preservation/reperfusion injury of liver graft: Chemokine release and liver ultrastructure

There is a growing body of evidence that the cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-ga), plays an important role in the development of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury. We found that the immunosuppressants, cyclosporine-A (CsA), azathioprine, and FK506, have protective effects on such injury. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate mechanisms involved in these beneficial effects of the immunosuppressant, CsA, on liver injury following cold preservation and transplantation, with special reference to the suppression of TNF-α release. Rat livers were stored in Euro-Collins solution (EC) at 4°C for 6h and orthotopically transplanted. The animals allotted to two groups: group A (untreated controls) and group B (CsA pretreatment of recipients). CsA (10 mg/kg, p.o.) was given for 3 consecutive days preoperatively. CsA pretreatment of the recipients significantly improved the 2-week survival rate (0/6 for group A, 3/6 for group B;P<0.05) and this was associated with a significant decrease in serum TNF-α levels 2h posttransplantation (group A, 69.8±15.7 pg/ml; group B, 22.8±6.8; mean±SEM;n=12 each;P<0.05) and amelioration of sinusoidal endothelial injury, assessed by electron microscopy. Plasma endotoxin levels following reperfusion of the grafts were not altered by the CsA therapy. Morphologically, CsA pretreatment of the recipients did not alter activation of Kupffer cells. CsA pretreatment of the recipient aids in preventing cold preservation/reperfusion injury of the liver graft, possibly by modulating effects of TNF-α.     

Restricted diversity of the variable region nucleotide sequences of the heavy and light chains of a human rheumatoid factor

The complete nucleotide sequences of the variable region genes of the heavy and light polypeptide chains of a human monoclonal rheumatoid factor (RF) produced from a human-mouse heterohybridoma were determined. The antibody, designated YES8c, contained V kappa III, J kappa 2, VH1, JH4, and a D gene segment of 9 amino acids. The nucleotide sequences and the deduced amino acid sequences of the light chain variable region were remarkably homologous (97-98%) to previously described RF of the Wa idiotypic family (PAY, GLO, CUR, FLO, and GAR) and to that of a V kappa III germline gene (Humkv325). The YES8c heavy chain variable region gene was most closely related to the VH1 gene of the restricted human fetal repertoire, designated 51p1, and also to 3 rearranged VH1 genes that were recently isolated from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. These results suggest that variable region genes of RFs are highly conserved and that YES8c VH, as well as V kappa, may be identical to heavy and light chains expressed during early B cell development.