Autonomic indexes during the vestibular-visual conflict exposure: a squirrel monkey study

To assess the dynamic changes of the autonomic neural responses evoked by vestibular-visual conflict (VVC) in the squirrel monkey, we analyzed the changes of salivary amount and sodium concentration, and the coefficient of variance (CV) of R-R intervals (RRI) along the time course of VVC exposure given in pitch plane. The sodium concentration and the amount of saliva showed clear increases at the first and second 15 min stimulation periods. The CV of RRI was found to increase over the entire periods of stimulation, and there was a significant difference between the rest value and those in stimulated periods. The correlation between the CV of RRI, and amount of salivation was highly positive. These results indicate the existence of a common pattern of autonomic neural response during VVC, and suggest usefulness of these indexes for objectively monitoring the severity of motion sickness.     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: analysis of risk factors for predicting conversion to open cholecystectomy.

AIM: to assess the usefulness of different clinical and ultrasound parameters to identify patients at high risk of conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy. METHODS: we retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and preoperative ultrasonographic images of 80 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. RESULTS: eight clinical and nine ultrasound parameters were assessed. Our statistical analysis showed that ultrasound imaging indicated two risk factors for conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy: a scleroatrophic gallbladder and dilation of the intrahepatic biliary ducts. A gallbladder wall thicker than 6 mm was also considered a risk factor, although this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: our results suggest that preoperative ultrasonography is useful in selecting patients who are highly likely to require conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery.     

Effect of the C3a-Receptor Antagonist SB 290157 on Anti-OVA Polyclonal Antibody–Induced Arthritis

It was investigated whether the C3a-receptor antagonist (C3aRA) SB 290157 was involved in the suppression of anti-OVA pAb–induced arthritis because it is well known that anaphylatoxin C3a plays a crucial role in the development of an effective inflammatory response during complement activation. Anti-OVA pAb–induced arthritis was induced in DBA/1J mice by administration of anti-OVA pAb 0.5 h prior to intra-articular (i.a.) injection of OVA (0 h). Two peaks of joint swelling were observed at 0.5 and 3 h. The role of C3aRA in arthritis was investigated by injection of SB 290157 at concentrations of 10 and 30 mg/kg at 0 and 2 h. The antagonist was able to reduce joint swelling only at 3 h, and about 50% inhibition of joint swelling was observed with the concentration of 30 mg/kg. The C3 level was significantly decreased at 3 h compared with naïve mice showing complement consumption. Furthermore, the C3 activation was observed and increased corresponding to the graded concentration of anti-OVA pAb. The results also revealed that the C3aRA was able to reduce the expression of IL-1β in synovial tissue. Taken together, the results suggested that C3aRA may be effective in the inhibition of arthritis.     

Ventilation, cardiac output and blood respiratory parameters in the carp, Cyprinus carpio, during hyperoxia

The specific ventilatory flow rate (Vw), cardiac output (Vb) and blood respiratory parameters were determined in the carp (Cyprinus carpio) during hyperoxia. Vb changed little during moderate hyperoxia (240-330 Torr) but slightly increased during extreme hyperoxia (430-490 Torr) while Vw decreased. This means that the ventilation-perfusion ratio considerably decreased during hyperoxia. The CO2 tension (PCO2) of blood rose, causing a corresponding decrease in blood pH. The O2 tensions (PO2) of arterial and mixed venous blood increased but remained low (about 40 Torr and 15 Torr, respectively). Consequently, the hemoglobin in the arterial and mixed venous blood was not saturated with O2 (about 80 and 55%, respectively) even during extreme hyperoxia. This indicates that most of the O2 which is consumed by the fish remains transported in a combined form during hyperoxia. During hyperoxia, when the decreased Vw was artificially elevated to the normoxic level, the PO2 of arterial blood (PaO2) rose further and the PCO2 and pH of arterial blood became restored to the normoxic levels. This suggests that the CO2 retention and the depressed increase in PaO2 during hyperoxia are mainly due to the decrease in Vw in the carp.     

Retrospective studies of gastric cancer with hepatic metastases

From 1979 to 1988, a total of 1265 cases of gastric cancer were admitted to our Institute. Of these, 80 cases (6.3%) involved hepatic metastasis. Thirty-eight cases (47.3%) underwent gastrectomy (24 distal, 2 proximal, 11 total and one partial). Of these 38 cases, 7 underwent a combined resection of a simultaneous metastatic hepatic tumor. A total of 19 (67.9%) of the 28 cases in H1, 6 (37.5%) of the 16 cases in H2, and 13 (36.1%) of the 36 cases in H3 underwent gastrectomy. Hepatic metastasis occurred most frequently (18.2%) in Borrmann type 1, 5% in type 2, 14.9% in type 3 and 8.7% in type 4. Of all 593 resected advanced cases, there were 283 differentiated type, with a hepatic metastasis rate of 14.5%, and 310 undifferentiated type with 7.1% rate of hepatic metastasis. In H1 and H2, the prognosis after primary gastric cancer resection was better than for unresected cases. Moreover, there have been reports recently of long-term survival using continuous hepatic arterial infusion of anti-cancer drugs, and of combined resection of the metastatic hepatic tumor after curative gastrectomy. Therefore we should not give up these H1 and H2 patients.     

Malignant lymphoma from left renal capsule: report of case

A 59-year-old woman was admitted to our clinic with the complaint of left flank pain. Excretory urogram showed left hydronephrosis. Computed tomographic (CT) scan and renal angiography showed a left renal capsular tumor. Histological specimen obtained by a sure cut needle suggested malignant lymphoma. She was treated with a combined treatment of 8 MHz radiofrequency hyperthermia in a total of 10 sessions and 5,440 rads irradiation for 5 weeks. After the treatment, CT scan showed 92% tumor regression. After that, a recurrent tumor in left shoulder muscle became manifest. She received combination chemotherapy with 3 courses of ABEP regimen (aclacinomycin, cytosine arabinoside, etoposide, prednisolone) and 7 courses of ACOPE regimen (adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone, etoposide) and complete remission was obtained.     

Study of cytoskeletal proteins in fibroblasts cultured from familial Alzheimer''s disease

Cytoskeletal proteins of the cultured fibroblasts obtained from Alzheimer's disease patients were studied. Western blotting studies of tubulin, actin, and vimentin showed no difference between Alzheimer and the control fibroblasts. Western blotting studies of vimentin revealed five partial degradation products in 50 K-57 K Da. molecular size region, but no difference in the degradation pattern was noticed between Alzheimer and the control fibroblasts. The size of fodrin molecule, however, was quite different between Alzheimer and the control fibroblasts. Comparing the molecular size of fodrin purified from the bovine brain, it is concluded that fodrin in Alzheimer fibroblasts is not degraded, while significant amount of fodrin in the control fibroblasts is partially degraded resulting in the smaller size of the 160 K and 200 K Da. molecular weight products.     

Optic nerve hemangioblastoma. Case report

A solitary hemangioblastoma of the optic nerve was found in a 36-year-old male with a distinct family history of intracranial hemangioblastoma. The patient was admitted with complaints of visual loss and exophthalmos of the right eye. X-rays showed enlargement of the right optic canal. Right carotid angiography revealed a hypervascular tumor in the orbital apex, supplied by the ophthalmic artery. Computed tomography disclosed a pear-shaped, isodense mass with moderate contrast enhancement in the orbital apex. The right optic nerve was enlarged along its entire course and was involved with the apical mass. Surgery via the right frontal extradural approach disclosed a solid, vascular tumor involving the optic nerve at the apex of the orbit. Histological examination showed the tumor to be a characteristic hemangioblastoma. Over 90% of intracranial hemangioblastomas are located in the posterior fossa. Supratentorial hemangioblastomas, especially those arising in the optic nerve, are extremely rare. In addition, optic nerve hemangioblastomas are frequently familial and are associated with infratentorial hemangioblastomas, angiomatosis retinae, and cysts of the abdominal viscera.