A study of ventricular contraction sequence in complete right bundle branch block by phase analysis

Twenty-four patients with complete right bundle branch block (CRBBB) combined with and without left axis deviation (LAD) on ECG, were compared with 17 normal subjects to evaluate the right ventricular contraction sequence and pattern in detail. Blood pool scintigrams were obtained in the left anterior oblique projection, and these images were analyzed by first component Fourier harmonics. In the normal subjects, the phase value distribution representing the pattern of ventricular contraction was almost homogeneous in both the right and left ventricles (RV & LV). In the CRBBB patients without LAD, the phase images showed apparent phase delay in the right ventricle. In the CRBBB patients with LAD, the phase images showed many different contraction patterns varying from normal to RV phase delay, owing to the effects of the hemi-block. Quantitative analysis of the absolute values, showed that the mean (RV-LV) value was 6.6 +/- 8.4 msec in the normal subjects. In the CRBBB patients without LAD, the duration of the QRS complex correlated with the mean (RV-LV) value, whereas no difference was observed between the duration of the QRS complex and the standard deviation of the right ventricle. Using phase analysis the degree of the RBBB can be determined from the phase images, and can be quantitatively analyzed as in electrical studies.     

Thrombopoietic factor enhances murine megakaryopoiesis induced by recombinant erythropoietin.

Partially purified thrombopoietic factor (TPF) potentiated in vitro murine megakaryopoiesis induced by recombinant human erythropoietin (rh-Epo). High doses (2.5-10 units) of rh-Epo generated a considerable number of megakaryocytes in a dose-dependent manner in a serum-free liquid culture, whereas low doses of rh-Epo (0.5-1 units) failed to generate megakaryocytes. The addition of high doses of rh-Epo and TPF caused a significant increase of megakaryocytes in comparison with high doses of rh-Epo alone. Furthermore, low doses of rh-Epo with TPF caused generation of a small number of megakaryocytes, although TPF alone did not generate megakaryocytes. In addition, TPF enhanced the acetylcholinesterase (Ach-E) activity of megakaryocytes induced by rh-Epo. The potentiating effects of both factors, rh-Epo and thrombopoietic factor, may play an important role in thrombocytopenic states in vivo as well as in in vitro megakaryopoiesis.     

Immunohistochemical studies of the localization of prolactin in human term decidua

Human amniotic fluid possesses a considerably higher concentration of PRL. And it is generally accepted that decidual cells are the source of amniotic PRL and, decidual PRL transfers into amniotic fluid across the fetal membranes. Because few studies on the fine morphological structure of decidual tissue have been reported, with the aid of electron microscopy, we noted the number of secretory granules in the partial decidual cells which were obtained at spontaneous term vaginal delivery. 1 Using immunohistochemical procedures and the PAP complex method, immunized anti-PRL revealed PRL reactivity on the numerous granules or globules. 2 Incubation for acid phosphatase (AcP-ase) activity was done after the tissues were fixed. The medium used was Gomori lead medium, with glycerophosphate as substrate. Lysosomes are present in decidual cells. In lysosomes, numerous residual bodies with reaction product are evident as electro-opaque black bodies. 3 In staining of tissues for the study of lipid granules, Sudan III solution (Sudan Schwarz B dissolved in 70% alcohol) was used. Decidual cells contain fewer and bigger cytosolic lipid spheres.     

Short-term intrathrombotic injection of ultrahigh-dose urokinase for treatment of iliac and femoropopliteal artery occlusions

Thirty-two patients with iliac and femoropopliteal artery occlusions were treated with direct intrathrombotic injection of ultrahigh-dose urokinase (10,000 IU/min). Occlusions ranged from 3 to 25 cm (average 13.3 cm) in length and the total urokinase dose from 120,000 to 1,410,000 IU (average 688,000 IU). The procedure was usually followed by balloon angioplasty to dilate the underlying stenoses. The initial recanalization rate was 96.9%, the two week patency rate 81.3%, and the cumulative one-year patency rate 66.3%. Complications associated with this procedure included three episodes of minimal bleeding, two distal embolisms, one local hematoma, and one low-grade fever. All were well controlled by palliative treatment. Results indicate that this procedure can provide rapid recanalization at a higher success rate and with fewer complications than previously reported.     

Pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor with rapid growth and serum carcinoembryonic antigen elevation

Inflammatory pseudotumors consist of chronic inflammatory cells, predominantly plasma cells. We report a rare case of pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor associated with rapid growth and elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). A 75-year-old man referred for bloody sputum was found in chest computed tomography (CT) to have a round circumscribed tumor with a cavity located in the periphery of the right lower pulmonary lobe. Cytological examination of a biopsy specimen obtained by CT-guided transthoracic fine needle aspiration showed no malignancy. Two months later, the tumor had noticeably grown, accompanied by a notable rise in serum CEA. We conducted right lower pulmonary lobectomy with regional lymph node dissection, since malignancy could not be ruled out by frozen-section examination. Histological examination of the resected specimen showed an inflammatory pseudotumor with CEA production.     

Lumbar artery pseudoaneurysm: An unusual cause of a retroperitoneal hematoma: Report of a case

Pseudoaneurysm of the lumbar artery is a rare complication of penetrating trauma. We present herein a case thought to have been caused by a blow to the left flank without any evidence of a stab wound. In this patient, the diagnosis of a first lumbar artery pseudoaneurysm with a retroperitoneal hematoma was confirmed by computed tomography (CT) findings, after which transcatheter embolization was successfully performed.     

The affinity of betaxolol, a beta 1-adrenoceptor-selective blocking agent, for beta-adrenoceptors in the bovine trachea and heart.

1. The specificity of betaxolol, a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, for beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors was compared with that of other beta-antagonists, atenolol, ICI-118551, butoxamine and (+/-)-propranolol, in the bovine trachea and heart by competitive interaction with [3H]-CGP12177 as a radioligand. 2. The radioligand Kd values were 0.75 +/- 0.12 and 1.60 +/- 0.11 nM in the trachea and heart, respectively, and the Bmax values were 34.00 +/- 4.41 and 21.54 +/- 2.94 fmol mg-1 protein, respectively. 3. Using ICI-118551, we determined the ratio of beta 1:beta 2-adrenoceptors in the trachea and heart to be approximately 29:71 and 56:44, respectively. 4. In the trachea, a beta 2-predominant tissue, betaxolol and atenolol were more selective for beta 1-adrenoceptor binding sites than beta 2-adrenoceptor binding sites, whereas ICI-118551 and butoxamine were more selective for beta 2-adrenoceptor binding sites. 5. The beta 1-selectivity of betaxolol was 2.2 and 2.7 fold higher than that of atenolol in the bovine trachea and heart. These findings suggest that betaxolol may be useful in the treatment of hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia and angina pectoris.     

Veno-occlusive Disease of the Liver Following Bone Marrow Transplantation: A Clinical-Pathological Study of Autopsy Cases

Abstract: A total of 28 patients with leukemia underwent intensive therapy with megadose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. Of 16 patients who had busulfan therapy, 2 developed the clinical syndrome of veno-occlusive disease of the liver (VOD) characterized by progressive abnormalities in liver function, abdominal pain, and ascites. Postmortem findings showed VOD of the central and sublobular hepatic vein. Immunohistochemical analysis using anti-actin and CD34 mAb was employed in an attempt to clarify the process of fibrosis. Actin positive cells had accumulated around the central vein. Ito cell activation might be responsible for secondary fibrosis following endothelial injury. We report autopsy findings and immunohistochemical results.