An experimental study on development of gallstone disease after curative gastrectomy for cancer--postoperative alteration of the composition of canine gallbladder bile after subtotal gastrectomy with truncal vagotomy]

In connection with gallstone (GS) formation after gastrectomy for cancer, we examined alteration of the composition of gallbladder bile after subtotal gastrectomy with truncal vagotomy. Of 11 mongrel dogs with cholecystostomy, 3 underwent B-I and 4 B-II gastrectomy. Four dogs without gastrectomy were served as controls. Bile was collected for 12 months. Bile acids were quantified by GLC. The bile was cultured for bacteriology. TBA did not significantly differ among the three groups of the dogs. In the two gastrectomized groups, CDA (a secondary bile acid) kept a higher level and CA (a primary bile acid) maintained a lower concentration compared with those in the controls. A remarkable increase of non-conjugated bile acids was recognized in both gastrectomized groups. Lithogenicity was low for all of the 3 groups. All but 1 control dog incurred bile infection that persisted long. Black pigment stones containing calcium bilirubinate developed in 1 of the 3 B-I and 2 of the 4 B-II dogs but none in the controls. The bile infection seemed to be involved in the development of GS. As the alteration of bile composition and GS occurred solely in the gastrectomized dogs, subtotal gastrectomy with truncal vagotomy might precipitate the GS formation.     

Acute myocardial injury and repeated angina pectoris-like attacks in a young patient with Churg-Strauss syndrome]

A 23-year-old male with bronchial asthma developed eosinophilia (eosinophils greater than 2,000/mm3) and was observed at our hospital. After using a prescribed indomethacin suppository for fever at home, he experienced an attack of acute chest pain and severe dyspnea. He suffered cardiac arrest while being transferred to the ward. After resuscitation, he was diagnosed as having acute myocardial infarction on the basis of electrocardiographic and ultrasonic cardiographic findings, and marked elevation of serum concentrations of myocardial enzymes. Thereafter, he often complained of precordial pain and abdominal pain. When he was administered an analgesic in another hospital, he developed severe precordial pain, and marked ST elevation was recorded on the electrocardiogram. Coronary angiography revealed no stenosis nor atherosclerotic changes, suggesting that severe spasm of the coronary arteries and direct myocardial injury by eosinophils were the causes of the myocardial infarction-like symptoms and angina pectoris-like attacks. He was diagnosed as having Churg-Strauss syndrome (allergic granulomatous angiitis) on the basis of the clinical findings; skin biopsy and transbronchial lung biopsy findings were consistent with the diagnosis. Following steroid administration, his angina-like attacks and abdominal pain ceased. This patient developed two episodes of acute cardiovascular symptoms upon administration of antipyretic analgesics. This suggests that in cases of Churg-Strauss syndrome with aspirin-induced asthma, physicians must be aware of the cardiovascular complications, and such drugs should be administered with caution.     

Clinical features of patients with mild systemic lupus erythematosus.

Clinical features of 16 patients with mild systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were compared with those of 21 control patients with moderate or severe disease. Age at the time of diagnosis of SLE was higher in mild disease group. The incidence of the coexistence of Sj?gren's syndrome (SS) at the time of diagnosis of SLE was higher in patients who later developed mild disease. Anti-Sm antibody and decreased levels of C3, C4, and CH50 occurred less frequently in patients with mild disease. SLE patients with the coexistence of SS at the time of diagnosis of SLE may represent a subset with a benign prognosis.     

A new cell line for the production of chicken monoclonal antibody by hybridoma technology

In our previous study (Nishinaka et al., 1989), a chicken B cell line (HU3R27) deficient in thymidine kinase activity was used as a fusion partner for production of chicken monoclonal antibody. Specific antibody-producing hybridomas were initially obtained, but they soon lost the ability to produce antibody in culture. The present report documents the development of an improved fusion cell line. R27H4, for the production of chicken monoclonal antibody. This cell line was obtained by fusion of HU3R27 cells with spleen cells of immunized chicken. Fusion of R27H4 cells with spleen cells from chicken immunized by keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) resulted in antibody-producing hybridomas. Subcloned hybridomas secreted highly reactive IgG and weakly reactive IgM. Some of the cell lines have been displaying stable antibody secretions for over 6 months.     

Age-related changes in the kidney of patients with mild mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis

In order to clarify age-related changes in kidneys, the renal function and histological changes were evaluated in 962 patients with mild mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (Mes PGN) whose ages ranged from 7 to 82 years. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (Ccr), renal plasma flow (RPF) (CPAH) and PSP excretion rate were significantly lower in nephritic patients than in normal subjects. Age-related decreases of GFR, RPF, PSP excretion rate and maximal urine specific gravity in Fishberg concentration test were found in both groups. Serum levels of creatinine, urea nitrogen and uric acid were significantly higher in nephritic patients than in the normal population. Age-related increases of those parameters were found in both groups. The incidence of sclerotic glomeruli was almost same as that of the normal population estimated by Kaplan et al. The incidence of arterio- and arteriolosclerosis was also higher than that of normal subjects estimated by Bell. Thus, arterio- and arteriolosclerosis seems to be more age-dependent than glomerulosclerosis in patients with mild Mes PGN. In conclusion, renal functions decrease and renal arteriolar lesions increase gradually in proportion to aging. Mes PGN, even mild, can accelerate the physiological age-related decrease of renal function.     

Combined effects of arbekacin with other antibiotics against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. III. Combined effects of arbekacin with cefotiam or cefuzonam]

Antibacterial effects of combination use of arbekacin (ABK) with cefotiam (CTM) or cefuzonam (CZON) were evaluated against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the following results were obtained. 1. Antibacterial effects of combinations of ABK with CTM and with CZON were equally potent against MRSA at clinically expected 1 MIC of ABK in blood. However, at a sub MIC of ABK the different effects were observed between the 2 combinations. The antibacterial effect of the former was strong and that of the latter was a little weak. 2. In either combination the potency of the antibacterial activity was less dependent on the concentration of CTM or CZON, but was strongly dependent on ABK concentrations. These results suggest that antibacterial effects of the combinations were highly dependent on antibacterial potency and concentration of ABK as previously reported for combinations of ABK with other drugs. 3. The combination use of ABK with CTM appears to be useful in cases of infection by MRSA alone while the combination use of ABK with CZON appears to be useful in cases of double infection with MRSA and Gram-negative bacterium.