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.     

Pseudoaneurysm of the cortical artery associated with chronic subdural hematoma--a consideration on traumatic middle cerebral artery aneurysm

A 62-year-old man was admitted to our hospital, since chronic subdural hematoma was showed after he complained of mild headache and nausea. Two years ago he had head trauma at the left parietal region after drinking. On admission there was no paresis and mild choked disc is detected. Computed tomography with contrast enhancement showed abnormal enhancement and left chronic subdural hematoma. Cerebral angiography showed an aneurysm of the angular artery. Operation was done and the aneurysm was trapped. Aneurysmal wall was histologically a pseudoaneurysm. Post-operative result was good. We considered the relationship between the cortical pseudoaneurysm and chronic subdural hematoma. We reviewed the traumatic middle cerebral artery aneurysm in the literature, 56 cases.     

Correlation of 99mTc-MDP scintimetry and histology in cervical hip fracture

In 20 cases of fresh cervical hip fracture, treated with primary prosthetic replacement, preoperative 99mTc-MDP scintimetry was compared with histologic findings of the extracted femoral heads. The radionuclide uptake was classified into three types according to the activity distribution; overall increase, focal decrease, and overall decrease. Histologically, the location and extent of ischemic necrosis in the femoral heads were closely related to the distribution of decreased activity.     

Electrochemotherapy significantly inhibits the growth of colon 26 tumors in mice

Electrochemotherapy is a novel antitumor treatment involving the systemic administration of bleomycin followed by the delivery of electrical pulses to the tumor. The present study investigates the effects of electrochemotherapy on the growth of colon 26 cells inoculated subcutaneously into the backs of BALB/c mice. The mice were divided into the following four experimental groups: 20 that received no further treatment after the inoculation of colon 26 cells (control group); 20 that received 500 μg of bleomycin intraperitoneally 7 and 9 days after the inoculation (BLM group); 20 that received electric pulses to the tumor 7 and 9 days after the inoculation (EP group); and 30 that received electrochemotherapy 7 and 9 days after the inoculation (ECT group). During 28 days of observation, no deaths due to tumor progression occurred in the ECT group, but there were 18 in the control group, 11 in the BLM group, and 18 in the EP group. While weight loss was observed in all groups, it was most remarkable in the control group. Tumor growth was significantly inhibited in the ECT group, compared to the other experimental groups (P<0.01). The results of this study demonstrated that electrochemotherapy significantly inhibited the growth of colon 26 tumors in mice, without causing any remarkable adverse effects.