-Hydroperoxy diethyl peroxide, an unusual natural compound isolated from an ascidian (Phallusia mammillata): acute toxicity in DDY mice

-Hydroperoxy diethyl peroxide, a novel compound found in the tunic of ascidians, has two peroxide moieties per molecule. Since ascidians are a widely served food item in Japan, human exposure to this compound potentially exists in the seafood preparation industries. No toxicological data have so far been published on this compound, and so we determined the intraperitoneal 6-day LD₅₀ in mice and conducted histopathological examinations. The 6-day LD₅₀, was found to be 199 mg/kg with 95% confidence limits of 126–314 mg/kg. Histopathological examination revealed necrosis induced in a variety of cells that had been directly exposed to the compound. These cells included hepatocytes, parenchymal pancreatic cells and fat cells. It is concluded that direct contact with this compound is likely to elicit cellular necrosis of various organs. The specific toxicological effects are probably dependent on the route of exposure.     

Criminal Responsibility in Amphetamine Psychosis

Abstract: Historical changes in forensic psychiatric evaluation on criminal responsibility and proceedings in psychopathological findings of amphetamine psychosis are reviewed at first. The classification of amphetamine related mental disorders are proposed in 6 types. Among them, the clinical characteristics and psychopathological features of “Anxiety-situational reaction type” (Fukushima) are described. According to some reasonable grounds, offenders diagnosed as anxiety-situational reaction type should be evaluated as diminished responsibility in place of irresponsibility. Finally, two cases of murder committed under the influence of amphetamine, are reported in detail.     

Visualization of left bronchial-to-coronary artery communication after distal bronchial artery embolization for bronchiectasis

We present a 44-year-old woman in whom a bronchialto-coronary artery communication via the conus branch was discovered after distal bronchial artery embolization with gelatin sponge for hemoptysis. If this bronchial-to-coronary artery anastomosis, not visible prior to embolization, had been inadvertently embolized, the patient could have developed a myocardial infarction. To reduce the likelihood of a serious complication, the possibility of this anastomosis should be kept in mind and angiography should be repeated before attempting proximal bronchial artery embolization.     

Intermittent claudication associated with persistent sciatic artery: Report of two cases

Two elderly women complaining of intermittent claudication complicated with persistent sciatic artery are herein reported. A direct femoral arteriogram showed hypoplasty of the superficial femoral artery and an unnatural anatomical relationship between the distal superficial femoral artery and the proximal popliteal artery, thus suggesting the presence of persistent sciatic artery. The diagnosis of persistent sciatic artery was finally made based on the aortography findings including the iliac arterial system and computed tomography (CT) scan. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was helpful to demonstrate the entire image of this anomaly in cases with non-thrombolized sciatic artery. These diagnostic methods were useful in designing the optimal surgical strategy. The first case with a gluteal pulsating mass underwent exclusion of the persistent sciatic artery including the aneurysm through a retroperitoneal approach with a combination of femorotibial bypass, while the second case with thrombosed persistent sciatic artery only underwent femoropopliteal bypass. To recognize such a rare lesion, awareness of the differential diagnosis is important, and to provide appropriate treatment, an accurate whole image including adequate angiography, a CT scan, and magnetic resonance imaging is necessary.     

Change in body image of patients with alcohol dependence during treatment process]

In order to find useful information for the establishment of new treatment method to alcohol dependence, we investigated the change of the body image of patients with alcohol dependence before and after the treatment. HABIT (Haga Body Image Test), a questionnaire about body image developed in department of psychiatry in Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, was used to examine the change of body image between pre- and post-3-month conventional treatment program in 46 patients with alcohol dependence hospitalized into special institutions for treatment of the disease in Kyoto. Patients with poor outcome of the treatment showed improvement of body image on visceral function, feeling of appetite and outward appearance, while patients with good outcome indicated no significant change in these aspects. This finding likely suggests that the treatment would result in good outcome in patients having stable feeling of physical health, and the cognitive treatment approach about these aspects of body image should be performed on the patients with poor treatment outcome. On the other hand, the body image about motor function showed significantly higher score in the patients approach for the patients with poor outcome to become aware of their physical activity would be effective.     

A review of Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1): neurodevelopment, cognition, and mental conditions.

Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) is a promising candidate gene for schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BP), but its basic biology remains to be elucidated. Accumulating genetic evidence supports that DISC1 is associated with some aspects of cognitive functions relevant to SZ and BP. Here, we provide a summary of the current updates in biological studies of DISC1. Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia-1, preferentially expressed in the forebrain, has multiple isoforms with potential posttranslational modifications. Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia-1 protein occurs in multiple subcellular compartments, which include the centrosome, microtubule fractions, postsynaptic densities, actin cytoskeletal fractions, the mitochondria, and the nucleus. Recent studies have clarified that DISC1 mediates at least centrosome-dynein cascade and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling. Furthermore, both cytogenetic and cell biological studies consistently suggest that an overall loss of DISC1 function (either haploinsufficiency or dominant-negative, or both) may be associated with SZ and BP. On the basis of these findings, production of DISC1 genetically engineered mice is proposed as a promising animal model for SZ and BP. Several groups are currently generating DISC1 mice and starting to characterize them. In this review, the advantages and disadvantages of each animal model are discussed.     

Plasma thrombomodulin level in very low birthweight infants at birth

Objective: Plasma soluble thrombomodulin level reflects endothelial damage. The plasma thrombomodulin level at birth is increased in asphyxiated full-term infants. There is no report of plasma thrombomodulin level in premature infants. To determine the thrombomodulin level in premature infants and whether it might reflect endothelial damage, we examined the plasma thrombomodulin level in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants at birth. Methods: Forty-five VLBW infants, of whom 14 had perinatal asphyxia complications, were recruited. As a control, 50 full-term infants wimout complications were also studied. Plasma thrombomodulin concentration, pH, base deficit, serum creatinine and D-dimer concentration, platelet count and fibrinogen concentration were measured within 1 hour after birth. Results: There were significant differences in plasma pH, creatinine concentration, platelet count, antithrombin in activity and D-dimer concentration between VLBW infants and full-term infants. Plasma thrombomodulin concentration (39. 0 (16. 6–93. 7) vs 27. 0 (16. 6–39. 1) μg/L, p < 0. 0001) and plasma taombomodulin-to-serum creatinine ratio (0. 82 (0. 19–2. 65) vs 0. 47 (0. 24–0. 70) μg/μmol, p < 0. 0001) were significantly higher in VLBW infants than those in full-term infants. By univariate analyses for all neonates, there were significant relations between plasma thrombomodulin concentration and gestational age, birthweight, plasma pH, creatinine concentration, platelet count and antithrombin in activity. A stepwise multiple linear regression model using the above variables as dependent factors showed only birthweight contributed significantly to plasma thrombomodulin concentration (plasma thrombomodulin concentration (μg/1) = 45. 677–0. 006 (birthweight; g), r²= 0. 323, p < 0. 0001, n= 94). Plasma thrombomodulin concentration and plasma thrombomodulin-to -serum creatinine ratio in VLBW infants with asphyxia were higher than in those without asphyxia, but not significantly different (43. 2 ± 17. 7 vs 38. 3 ± 8. 5 μg/1 and 0. 92 ± 0. 60 vs 0. 83 ± 0. 37 μg/μmol). Conclusion: Plasma thrombomodulin level in VLBW infants shows a high value at birth, and we consider the main factor responsible for this elevation may be endothelial damage or low clearance rate of thrombomodulin, which may be related to early gestational age.