Observations on a double inferior vena cava: A case report with a literature review

A case of double inferior cava is described. The vessels involved in this anomalous system were measured. The probable embryonic origin of this anomaly is considered in the light of some previously described cases with which this case is compared. How this anomaly should be properly described is also addressed. An anatomical marker for the condition is also suggested. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Epithelioid vascular tumors of bone: a review and proposal of a classification scheme

Skeletal vascular tumors composed of epithelioid endothelial cells commonly result in diagnostic difficulty. Although tumors with this morphology have been recognized for many years, there is a considerable degree of confusion regarding their nomenclature and classification. In this article what is believed to represent the morphologic features of this family of tumors is outlined, the historical context of epithelioid endothelial tumors is briefly discussed, and pertinent literature and texts pertaining to the subject is reviewed. It is proposed that the osseous epithelioid endothelial tumors should be classified in a similar manner to their soft tissue counterparts and it is suggested that this approach should help to clarify the confusion surrounding this subject of surgical pathology.     

Role of radiation therapy in small cell lung cancer: a bio-clinico-pathological review and perspective

The role of radiotherapy in small cell carcinoma of the lung is unsettled; however, the radiosensitivity of this neoplasm is unquestioned. The ability of radiotherapy to cure or improve patients with this disease is still undergoing study. A review of this challenging subject is presented.     

微电脑多功能前列腺治疗仪的研制及其临床应用

本文研制了一种新型多功能前列腺治疗仪。该仪器集电磁波、磁疗、振动等于一体，结合临床药物并使其迅速渗透到腺体内，充分发挥药物的杀菌作用，从而达到标本兼治的目的。临床治疗100例慢性前列腺炎患者，取得了满意疗效。     

Congenital endodermal heterotopia of the atrioventricular node: evidence for the endodermal origin of so-called mesotheliomas of the atrioventricular node

A case of so-called mesothelioma of the atrioventricular node is presented. Controversy exists as to whether this lesion is of mesodermal or endodermal origin. The light and electron microscopic morphologic characteristics in this case were identical to those reported previously. The glandular component produced mucin that resisted digestion with both hyaluronidase and diastase; this staining pattern is characteristic of endodermal rather than of mesodermal tissue. Immunohistochemical methods demonstrated abundant carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the cytoplasm of the cells composing the lesion. The presence of CEA strongly argues for an endodermal origin, since this antigen characterizes tissue derived from endoderm and is generally absent from mesoderm. The lesion probably represents endodermal foregut tissue that is displaced during embryogenesis. As such, it is not a true neoplasm. It is proposed that this lesion be designated "congenital endodermal heterotopia of the atrioventricular node."     

Two cases of adreno-hepatic fusion in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)

In this report we describe 2 cases of adreno-hepatic fusion (AHF) in Cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) used in short-term toxicity studies. AHF is defined as the union of hepatic tissue with the adrenal gland with close intermingling of the respective parenchymal cells. In this condition, a continuous intervening connective tissue septum is lacking. AHF is believed to be a congenital anomaly caused by a defect or delay in the formation of the organ capsules from the intermediate primitive mesenchymal stroma. To our knowledge, this is the first time this anomaly is described in the monkey.     

L-tyrosine in the treatment of narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a disorder characterized by the sudden urge to sleep. The biochemical etiology of this disorder is believed to be due to dopamine abnormalities. Since the precursor of dopamine is L-tyrosine, the administration of this amino acid may prove beneficial in the treatment of narcolepsy. Preliminary research apparently supports this hypothesis.     

Application of a shape memory alloy for internal artificial organs

Shape memory alloy (SMA) is an actuator with high efficiency, and for this reason, SMA is suitable for totally implantable artificial internal organs. We have thought about the various possible applications, and one is an artificial sphincter. Many patients with cancer have a stoma, with which control of excretion is, of course, difficult. It limits the quality of life (QOL) of patients with stomata. If there is a sphincter for the stoma, control becomes possible. Therefore, an artificial anal sphincter was developed. Energy will be supplied by the use of a transcutaneous energy transmission system (TETS). The energy is used to raise the temperature and this becomes the drive energy in the SMA. This system can achieve very high efficiency; therefore, this actuator may be suitable for artificial internal organs. This system is currently in the stage of animal experimentation. By opening and shutting an artificial anal sphincter, excretion becomes possible. Application of this totally implantable system to artificial myocardium is considered in this article. SMA thread was sewn together, and the artificial myocardium was applied to the outside of a heart. For improvement of the cooling time, Peltier elements were adopted in this artificial myocardium. By the use of Peltier elements, rapid cooling becomes possible. Using this artificial myocardium, cardiac contraction may be assisted. In this way, various applications of the SMA are being considered in Tohoku University.     

High cholesterol and coronary heart disease in younger men: the potential role of stress induced exaggerated blood pressure response

It is well known that by far the strongest association between serum cholesterol levels and the risk of coronary heart disease or related adverse events is found in younger men. The question is - what is different about this age-gender subgroup? It has been suggested that this enhanced risk is seen in younger men because of unique exposure to stress. While stress is known to raise cholesterol levels, the magnitude of the elevation appears insufficient to account for the observed association between cholesterol levels and CHD in young men. An hypothesis is presented which suggests that part and perhaps all of this association is due to the relationship between cholesterol levels and exaggerated blood pressure response to stress, i.e. individuals who exhibit this hyper-response also tend to have significantly elevated cholesterol levels. Given that both stress and an exaggerated blood pressure response to stress are also risk factors for CHD, this could influence the relationship between CHD risk and cholesterol in this age group even if multivariate analysis includes casual blood pressure. This is important since in risk assessment, especially among young men, cholesterol levels play an important role.     

Hepatic cyst associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

A solitary hepatic cyst, associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, is described. To our knowledge, this association has not been previously reported. A developmental anomaly or hamartomatous nature of this lesion is suggested. Knowledge of this association may be helpful in the clinical diagnosis of this benign entity.     

Femoral guide breakage during the anteromedial portal technique used for ACL reconstruction

Positioning of the femoral tunnel is very important in ACL reconstruction and it is often recommended to use an anteromedial portal technique in order to create the tunnel. This technique is more demanding but it gives a surgeon more freedom to place the ACL graft in an anatomical position compared to the transtibial technique.A case of an intraarticular femoral guide breakage associated with this particular technique is presented. That being said, the aim of this paper is not only to present this rare complication following arthroscopic reconstruction of ACL, but also to indicate how to prevent, diagnose and treat this undesired event.     

Altered expression of lymphocyte functional antigen in Down syndrome

A chronic inability to resist infection is a major cause of death in patients suffering from Down syndrome. However, how this impairment in immune function is related to the diagnostic characteristic of the syndrome — possession of three copies of chromosome 21 — is currently far from clear. In this article, Malcolm Taylor argues that the presence of the gene encoding the β subunit of the lymphocyte functional antigen on this chromosome suggests that immunodeficiency may be linked to the aberrant expression of this antigen on lymphocytes.     

Phonological Dyslexia: Loss of a Reading-specific Component of the Cognitive Architecture?

In phonological dyslexia, nonword reading is impaired while the reading of both regular and irregular words is preserved. Many phonological dyslexics are able to repeat the same nonwords that they are unable to read. This constellation of abilities and deficits has been interpreted as the result of impairment in the ability to translate orthography to phonology, as distinct from the impairment of orthography or phonology themselves. If this interpretation is correct, then the brain must contain some tissue that is dedicated to this reading-specific ability, that is, tissue which is necessary for this and only this ability. This, in turn, implies that school-age learning can determine the existence and nature of anatomically separate (hence selectively lesionable) neural systems. Our interest in this issue has led us to consider an alternative explanation of phonological dyslexia, according to which it results from a general (i.e. not reading-specific) impairment of phonological representation. We explain how a patient with apparently good nonword repetition might nevertheless have a general impairment of phonological representation that affects nonword reading, and we test this explanation with one such patient. We also discuss the evidence for and against this hypothesis available in other published cases of dissociated nonword reading and repetition.     

Prejudice and Homosexuality

SUMMARY. The recent psychodynamic literature on homosexuality is reviewed and a negative view is shown to remain prevalent. It is suggested that this may be the result of prejudice as opposed to simple error or to justified belief. In order to support this suggestion a theory of the origins and operation of prejudice is outlined. Next it is shown to be a consequence of this theory that prejudice should be especially likely in the domain of sexuality. Then an understanding of the psychic mechanisms which maintain prejudice is applied to a close reading of three papers concerned with homosexuality, which are shown to retain the marks of prejudice despite their compassionate and thoughtful stance. The way in which the logical distortions which mark prejudice are discernible in all three papers and operate to perpetuate some prejudices about AIDS, HIV infection, homosexuality and perversion is also shown. The prevalence of prejudices about homosexuality is noted to be especially great amongst psychodynamic therapists. It is argued that some reasons for this lie in the nature of psychoanalytic theory particularly in the way that homosexuality challenges some choices implicit within psychoanalytic theory. The parallels between this situation and that of the prejudiced individual are noted and suggestions are made for steps that might reduce prejudice in this area. Finally it is argued that the ill effects of prejudice on theory in this area are detrimental to psychoanalysis as well as to homosexuals. Prejudice and its effects are argued to be major barriers to the construction of good theory about homosexuality and, more optimistically, the work of some analysts who have questioned the prevailing attitude to homosexuality is reviewed.     

激光共焦显微生物医学图像的等高地图分割法

我们提出了等高地图分割法用于激光共焦显微生物医学图像分割。这种方法是先用等高地图法把图像分割成子区域,然后按照灰度均匀度分割准则,从高到低或从低到高逐步合并子区域。子区域的合并过程直到没有子区域需要合并为止。此方法的优点是对于物体灰度和灰度均匀度范围大而且重叠的图像具有很好的分割效果。本文首先介绍等高地图法区域分割,其次介绍按照灰度均匀度分割准则的区域合并,然后介绍线性灰度均匀度分割准则的设计,最后给出用这种方法侵害图像的两个例子。     

Taste representation in the human insula

The sense of taste exists so that organisms can detect potential nutrients and toxins. Despite the fact that this ability is of critical importance to all species there appear to be significant interspecies differences in gustatory organization. For example, monkeys and humans lack a pontine taste relay, which is a critical relay underlying taste and feeding behavior in rodents. In addition, and of particular relevance to this special issue, the primary taste cortex appears to be located further caudally in the insular cortex in humans compared to in monkeys. The primary aim of this paper is to review the evidence that supports this possibility. It is also suggested that one parsimonious explanation for this apparent interspecies differences is that if, as Craig suggests, the far anterior insular cortex is newly evolved and unique to humans, then the human taste cortex may only appear to be located further caudally because it is no longer the anterior-most section of insular cortex. In addition to discussing the location of taste representation in human insular cortex, evidence is presented to support the possibility that this region is better conceptualized as an integrated oral sensory region that plays role in feeding behavior, rather than as unimodal sensory cortex.