Seventeen-year follow-up of massive osteolysis of the scapula

A 14-year-old boy with massive osteolysis of the right scapula was treated by irradiation with a total dose of 58 Gy, using cobalt 60 (2 Gy per fraction) in 1983 and 1984. Histopathology in a biopsy specimen revealed hemangiomatosis associated with few osteoclasts and a lining of oval or spindle-shaped endothelial-like cells. The osteolysis has been interrupted since the last irradiation. In January 2000, 17 years after the initial treatment, the patient is working as a public officer, and shows no clinical signs of postradiation sarcoma. Radiographs show a residual scapula with sclerotic margin, associated with marked hypoplasia and atrophy of the right humerus. Ranges of motion of the right shoulder are 100° on anterior elevation, 40° on posterior elevation, and 70° on abduction. The patient experiences no problems in daily living, except for difficulty in lifting. Received: February 2, 2000 / Accepted: June 26, 2000     

Differential effects of methylmercury on the synthesis of protein species in dorsal root ganglia of the rat

Dorsal root ganglia from control and methylmercury(MeHg)-treated rats were incubated in vitro with ³⁵S-methionine ant the proteins synthesized were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. The double labelling method, in which proteins of control dorsal root ganglia labelled in vitro with ³H-leucine were added to each of the two samples as an internal standard, was used to minimize unavoidable errors arising from the resolving procedure itself. The results obtained showed that the effect of MeHg on the synthesis of proteins in dorsal root ganglia was not uniform for individual protein species in the latent period of MeHg intoxication. Among 200 protein species investigated, 157 showed inhibition of synthesis close to that of the total proteins in the tissue (68% of the control). Among the remaining protein species, 20 showed real stimulation of synthesis, whereas 7 were moderately inhibited and 16 were inhibited more strongly than the total proteins in the tissue. These results suggest that the effect of MeHg on the synthetic rates for protein species in dorsal root ganglia differs with the species, and that unusual elevation or reduction of the synthesis of some protein species caused by MeHg may lead to impairment of normal nerve functions.This work was supported in part by a grant from the Japanese Environmental Agency     

Activation of Bcr-abl Fusion Gene and Ras Oncogenes in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

We attempted to detect the bcr-abl fusion gene and ras gene family in CML by the in vitro focus forming assay and the tumorigenicity assay. Eight of 14 chronic phase and both of two blastic phase cases showed transforming activity in the tumorigenicity assay. However, only one chronic phase sample was positive in the in vitro focus forming assay. Among these 10 transformants, we found N-ras activation in one chronic phase, and K-ras activation in another chronic phase case. The bcr-abl fusion gene was activated in one chronic phase and all of the blastic phase cases by the tumorigenicity assay. The present result showed that the bcr-abl fusion gene transfected N1H3T3 cells formed tumors in nude mice in contrast to the in vitro focus forming assay. The bcr-abl fusion gene may play important roles in the progression as well as the pathogenesis of CML.     

Synthesis of polymer latex containing SH groups on the surface, 2. Emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of a polymerizable isothiuronium salt as a comonomer and the subsequent hydrolysis

Emulsion polymerization of styrene using various isothiuronium salts as comonomers and the subsequent alkaline hydrolysis of the product gave latices containing mercapto (SH) groups. Four styrene derivatives of isothiuronium salts and a methacrylate counterpart were employed as comonomers. The yield, size distribution, and sulfur content of the latices are affected by initiators and isothiuronium salts employed. With a cationic initiator (2,2′-azobis[(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane] dihydrochloride) and any isothiuronium salt, latices of narrow size distributions were obtained in high yield. The sulfur content of the latices is comparable to that calculated from the feed ratio of the salt to styrene monomer. In case of an anionic initiator (K₂S₂O₈), only 2-[4-vinylphenylmethyl]-and 2-[3-(methacryloyloxy)propyl]-isothiuronium chloride gave latices with narrow size distribution in high yield, whereas the sulfur content was lower than the calculated one. The isothiuronium salts on the latices were converted into mercapto groups by hydrolysis in aqueous alkaline solution. Thus, we obtained latices containing mercapto groups on the surface with narrow size distributions.     

Effects of antibiotics on the in vitro ERG of the albino rabbit

This study describes the effects of penicillin G (PC-G) potassium, PC-G sodium, cloxacillin sodium (MCIPC), disodium sulbenicillin (SBPC), cefazolin sodium (CEZ) and cefsulodin sodium (CFS) on the in-vitro electroretinogram (ERG) of the albino rabbit.The b-wave and oscillatory potentials (OPs) were unchanged by 0.1 mM PC-G potassium or PC-G sodium. The OPs were slightly suppressed by 0.3 mM of either drug. While the a- and b-waves were not deteriorated, the OPs were greatly suppressed by 1.0 mM concentration. The effect of PC-G on the ERG was characterized by a selective suppression of the OPs. The b-wave and OPs were not suppressed by 0.03 mM MCIPC. They were slightly suppressed by 0.05 mM MCIPC. The a-wave, b-wave and OPs were not deteriorated by 1.0 mM SBPC. The b-wave and OPs were suppressed by 3.0 mM or 6.0 mM SBPC respectively. These changes appeared to be dose-dependent. Since the b-wave and OPs were concomitantly suppressed by both MCIPC and SBPC, these antibiotics, unlike PC-G, did not selectively suppress the OPs. The b-wave and OPs were unchanged by 0.1 mM CEZ or CFS. The OPs were slightly suppressed by 0.3mM CEZ or CFS. CEZ or CFS of 1.0 mM did not deteriorate the a- and b-waves, but selectively suppressed the OPs. The effects of CEZ and CFS on the ERG were characterized by a selective suppression of the OPs. The above-described changes in the ERG were reversible.     

Transfemoral closure of patent ductus arteriosus: An alternative to surgery in older patients

Two patients with congestive heart failure underwent successful closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) at ages 58 and 63, respectively, using the transfemoral technique of Porstmann and Sato. The long-term benefits obtained in these two patients suggests a potential role for this technique in the elderly patient with PDA     

A new method for preparing electron microscopic specimens of Helicobacter pylori

A new method for preparing electron microscopic specimens of Helicobacter pylori was developed and used to examine the ultrastructure of this bacterium. We have also investigated the morphological changes in the bacterium when exposed to amoxicillin using our new method. Bacterial specimens for electron microscopy are usually prepared by collecting the bacteria by centrifugation during the fixation and dehydration processes. In our new method the bacteria are filtered through and adsorbed onto a filter before fixation, and the entire filter containing the adhered bacteria is fixed and dehydrated. Using this method we were able to obtain electron photomicrographs in which the external appearances or internal structures of the bacteria were well conserved. The advantages of this method are that it uses only a small amount of bacterial suspension, shortens the time required for the dehydration procedure, and keeps the artifacts to the minimum. Amoxicillin treatment resulted in coccoid form with blebs in the bacterial surface and the appearance of vacuoles, granules, and an area of low electron density in the cytoplasm at one and four minimum inhibitory concentrations. These changes were consistent with results previously reported in the literature.     

Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ): part 4. Establishment of equations for severity scores

Background To establish a patient-oriented outcome measure for cervical myelopathy, a subcommittee of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) developed a new scoring system to evaluate the overall clinical status of patients, which could be completed by patients themselves. The subcommittee completed three large-scale studies to select and modify questions derived from various preexisting outcome measures including Short Form-36, and then finalized and validated the questionnaire, which comprised 24 questions. Methods The finalized questionnaire was administered to 369 patients with cervical myelopathy due to disc herniation, spondylosis, or ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament by randomly selected board-certified spine surgeons. Patients with different severities of myelopathy were included to insure accuracy and responsiveness of this questionnaire against patients’ different neurological status. Results Data of 236 patients were employed and were subjected to rigorous statistical analyses. There was no question that was difficult to answer and distribution of answers for each question was not concentrated to one choice, indicating the appropriateness of all 24 questions. Results of factor analysis suggested that the 24 questions could be divided into five different factors or functional domains. The factors were defined as follows: factor 1, lower extremity function; factor 2, quality of life; factor 3, cervical spine function; factor 4, bladder function; and factor 5, upper extremity function. Finally, equations that would yield scores for the five factors were assembled. The score to be used to represent the degree of patients’ disability or status in each domain can be calculated by multiplying prefixed numbers of selected answers to questions by preassigned coefficients. Coefficients were defined to make the minimum score 0 and the maximum score 100. Conclusions We have successfully established a questionnaire that is able to demonstrate the status of patients suffering cervical myelopathy from five different aspects represented by five intuitive numerical scores. The final issue to be confirmed is the responsiveness of this questionnaire to changes in patients’ status after various surgical and nonsurgical treatments.