Transient scoliosis in a child with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

An 8 year old girl was admitted to hospital complaining of arthralgia in a few large joints. According to the clinical course and serological tests, a diagnosis of a polyarticular type of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis was made. About 6 weeks after the onset, scoliosis was observed. The curvature regressed spontaneously over the following 6 months. Generally, scoliosis associated with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis has been noted a few years after the onset. A transient scoliosis in the early phase of this disease is rare.     

Difficulties of families with handicapped children after the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake

In order to clarify the difficulties which handicapped people experienced in the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake disaster, 678 families with handicapped children were studied 1.5 months after the earthquake. All the students who were enrolled in this study were going to some type of school or training classes for handicapped children in January 1995. The study was completed between 1 and 10 March. The questionnaires which were designed for this study consisted of three parts: the difficulties which the families were faced with, their requirements for social and medical services and the symptoms and reactions of their children after the earthquake. A total of 466 answers were obtained from their parents. The kinds of difficulties differed between the families of mentally retarded children and those of the physically handicapped. While many parents with physically handicapped children desired better medical information or materials, many parents with mentally retarded children wanted better care services for their children. Physical and psychological effects of the earthquake were only temporary in most cases. However, some of the handicapped children were still suffering from such reactions as of 10 March. From the results of our study it became evident that a systematic relief program for these handicapped people should be established. The relief program should include the distribution of information regarding medical and social services. Psychological reactions such as panic, excitement and suppression of mental activity were still observed in some handicapped children on 10 March. Further observation will therefore be necessary.     

Importance of methionine residues in the enzymatic carboxylation of biotin-containing peptides representing the local biotinyl site of E. coli acetyl-CoA carboxylase

A biotin-containing hexapeptide Ac-Glu-Ala-Met-Bct-Met-Met ( 1 ) that represents the local biotin-containing site of Escherichia coli acetyl-CoA carboxylase has been prepared by the solid phase method. Peptide 1 is carboxylated by the biotin carboxylase subunit dimer of E. coli acetyl-CoA carboxylase with the following kinetic parameters; K_m 12 mm , V_max 2.8 μm · min^–1. These compare with the parameters for biotin of K_m 214 mm and V_max 28 μm · min^–1. Hence, the overall reactivity (V_max/K_m) of 1 is 1.8 times greater than that of free biotin. When all methionines in 1 are replaced by alanine, the resulting peptide ( 2 ) retains a similar binding ability but with a much decreased V_max. It was also found that peptide 3 , which carries an N-benzyloxy carbonyllysine in place of biocytin in 1 , decreases the K_m of biotin threefold.     

Influence of Mobile Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Implanted Pacemakers

KISHI, R., et al.: Influence of Mobile Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Implanted Pacemakers. Purpose: Mobile magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems will be widely used in Japan. When traveling, mobile MRI generate alternating electromagnetic waves which may cause electromagnetic interference (EMI). This study was designed to determine whether this may influence the function of implanted pacemakers (PM). Methods and Results: The influence of the static magnetic fields was tested in the first method using a PM-human model (Phantom). Magnetic force was simultaneously measured. The PM was switched to the magnet mode within 90 cm from the vehicle, where the magnetic force was = 2 mT. In the second method, six phantoms were placed on the side of the road, facing in three different directions in X-Y-Z axis orientations, at 1.3 m and 2.0 m above the ground. The mobile MRI passed by at a distance of 1 m from the phantoms at the speed of 20 or 40 km/h. In these experiments, magnet mode switch of the PM was observed for 2 seconds when the vehicle passed close to the phantoms, though no electrical noise was recorded. Conclusion: Mobile MRI vehicles can switch a PM to magnet mode when the distance between patient and vehicle is <90 cm, regardless of whether the vehicle is moving or at a stop. Patients with implanted PM should not approach within <1 m of a mobile MRI. No other EMI-induced PM dysfunction was detected. (PACE 2003; 26[Pt. II]:527–529)     

Linear Childhood Discoid Lupus Erythematosus Following the Lines of Blaschko: Successfully Treated with Topical Tacrolimus

Abstract: The linear arrangement of discoid lupus erythematosus is uncommon. Here, we report a 6‐year‐old Japanese girl with linear discoid lupus erythematosus following the lines of Blaschko on her face and neck. Topical tacrolimus treatment improved the eruptions. The present case also indicated the important role of epidermal and dermal cells as well as immune cells in the pathogenesis of cutaneous lupus erythematodes.     

Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Tachycardia:

Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Tachycardia. Idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (VT) originating from the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) is rare. We report two patients whose QRS configuration during VT commonly showed an inferior axis and monophasic R waves in all the precordial leads. The mechanism of these VTs appeared to be triggered activity. From mapping and ablation, the origin of these VTs was determined to be in the most posterior LVOT, corresponding to the aortomitral continuity (left fibrous trigone).     

Traumatic bladder rupture managed successfully by laparoscopic surgery

A 61-year-old man presented to our emergency department with acute abdomen. The patient had extraperitoneal and intraperitoneal traumatic bladder injury, which was successfully managed with combined endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures.