Effectiveness of Shakuyaku-kanzo-to in neuroleptio induced hyperprolactinemia: A preliminary report

Abstract We investigated the efficacy of Shakuyaku-kanzo-to (TJ-68) in neuroleptic-induced hyperprolactinemia in 11 treated schizophrenic patients. The mean plasma prolactin level decreased significantly from 28.9 ± 14.5 ng/mL at baseline to 22.0 ± 15.2 ng/mL at 4 weeks. Potassium levels did not change significantly. Neither the exacerbation of psychosis nor other adverse effects occurred.     

A multicenter,randomized, controlled trial of intravenous gamma globulin therapy in children with acute Kawasaki disease

We studied the effect of intravenous, polyethyleneglycol-treated, human immunoglobulin, administered at 200 mg/kg per day (group A: n = 147; male 86, female 61; age < 1 year, 50) or 400 mg/kg per day (group B: n = 152; male 87, female 65; age < l year, 52) for five consecutive days and compared it with freeze-dried, sulfonated human immunoglobulin [group C: n = 152; male 87, female 65; age < 1 year, 51), administered at 200 mg/kg per day for five consecutive days, on the prevention of coronary artery abnormalities in Kawasaki disease. Echocardiograms were interpreted blindly and independently. Proportions of 87.1%, 95.4%, and 82.3% in groups A, B, and C, respectively, had no coronary artery abnormalities. The confidence limits of difference between the proportions of groups A and C, groups B and C, and groups B and A were −4.4% and 10.4%, 7.8% and 15.9%, and 4.0% and 10.8%, respectively. Duration of fever and serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were correlated with the prevalence of coronary artery abnormalities. We concluded that intravenous, polyethyleneglycol-treated, human immunoglobulin and freeze-dried, sulfonated human immunoglobulin had clinically equivalent effects on coronary artery abnormalities, and that five daily doses of 400 mg/kg of intravenous, polyethyleneglycol-treated, human immunoglobulin is more effective than that of 200 mg/kg gamma globulin.     

Impact of sociodemographic and diabetes-related characteristics on depressive state among non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients

Abstract  One hundred and fifty-one non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients were assessed to detect sociodemographic, psychological and disease-related characteristics that were related to depressive state among diabetic patients. Depressive state in the patients was correlated with poor social support and low economic status, premorbid neurotic personality and the presence of complications, retinopathy in particular. However, depressive state did not correlate with age, gender, education, serum level of HbA_1C or duration of diabetes. The severity of the depressive state in diabetic patients may vary with the cultural background of the patient and/or the country in which he or she is living. In treating diabetic patients, doctors need to pay special attention to these factors.     

Dissolution of bupivacaine 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoate into phosphate buffers

Dissolution behaviour of bupivacaine 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoate (BUPNH) into phosphate buffers, pH 7·4 was investigated at 25° and 37°C. Although the dissolution pattern of the salt at 25°C was normal, i.e. the concentrations of the acid and base component agreed, during the entire dissolution period, that at 37°C was anomalous. The dissolution consisted of two phases, i.e. an initial normal phase was followed by a second slower phase in which the concentration of the acid became, at equilibrium, markedly higher than that of the base. This unusual dissolution behaviour at 37°C was shown to be due to the precipitation of the base, which, in turn, is attributed to the unusual temperature dependency of the solubility of the base in phosphate buffers, i.e. decrease in solubility with increasing temperature.     

β-Endorphin Enhances Phagocytosis of Latex Particles in Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages

The effects of β-endorphin (βEnd) on phagocytosis in peritoneal macrophages were examined by using flow cytometry (FCM). βEnd enhanced phagocytosis in a dose-dependent manner. Leucine—enkephalin (Leu-Enk), methionine—enkephalin (Met—Enk), α-endorphin (αEnd), γ-endorphin (γEnd), αEnd (18–31) and βEnd (28–31) had no such activity. βEnd (1–27) and βEnd (6–31) enhanced phagocytosis less effectively than βEnd did. Naloxone did not inhibit the enhancement of phagocytosis induced by βEnd. Unstimulated control phagocytosis was partially suppressed in Ca²⁺-free EGTA-containing solution and even in this solution βEnd enhanced phagocytosis. However, the enhancement was suppressed in the solution containing BAPTA-AM. The present study showed that βEnd enhanced extracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_o)-dependent and -independent phagocytosis and that the enhancement is largely dependent on intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i). These results support the contention that βEnd is one of the mediators that modulates the immune system.     

Studies on the site of renal tubular defect in Bartter's syndrome

Renal tubular function was studied in an 8-month-old male infant with Bartter's syndrome, which is characterized by hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, normotensive hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism, and reduced pressor response to angiotensin II. Chloride transport along the diluting segment (C_H2O/C_H2O + C_Cl) was impaired. Furthermore, furosemide did not elicit normal natriuresis, which suggested impaired chloride reabsorptive capacity at the furosemide-sensitive ascending limb of Henle's loop. Loss of antidiuretic hormone-mediated urinary concentration was in support of this. These findings pointed to the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop as the site of the primary defect in this child.     

A Clinicopathological Study of IIa +IIc Type Early Colorectal Cancer with Massive Submucosal Invasion

Abstract: The authors investigated clinical data and pathological findings of eight cases of IIa⁺IIc type early colorectal cancer which showed minimal invasion in the mucosal laver, but massive invasion in the submucosal layer (deep invasion type). The average age of these 8 patients was 57.8 years (6 out of 8 cases were between 55 and 61-years-old). 6 patients were males; 2 were females. Five patients were asymptomatic with a positive reaction for fecal occult blood; the other 2 had anal bleeding. All but 1 patient were diagnosed as having the IIa+IIc type of cancerous lesion, by barium enema examination and colonoscopy. Five patients had lesions in the sigmoid colon, 2 had lesions in the rectum, and 1 had a lesion in the ascending colon. The maximum lesion diameters ranged from 5 to 25 mm, averaging 15.9 mm. Six lesions were less than 20 mm in maximum diameter; 3 of these were less than 10 mm. Pathologically, 5 cases were moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, 2 were well differentiated adenocarcinoma, and one was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. None of the lesions had a coexisting adenomatous component. The incidence of lymph node metastasis was considerably higher than expected (2 out of 8 cases) for early invasive colorectal cancer. Our results suggest that the deep invasion type of early colorectal cancers (which probably arise de novo) are, though small as a rule, considered to have great potential to be malignant.     

Ultrasonic Diagnosis of Early Breast Cancer: Clinical Significance of Gray Scale Expanded Echography

Differential diagnosis of early breast cancer was performedby various echographic display techniques such as a sensitivitygraded method, gray scale echography and the expanded echographyof two dimensional (B-scan) ultrasonography on 541 cases. Theclinical significance of gray scale expanded echography fortarget enlargement was evaluated for early breast cancer on37 cases histologically verified. Differential criteria forthis technique is reported and bio-acoustic mechanisms for theappearance of such differential points are discussed. Diagnosticaccuracy rate improved for early breast cancer below 2.0 cmin size, while the false positive rate remained the same.