Effects of smoking and drinking on excretion of hippuric acid among toluene-exposed workers

Summary In order to investigate possible effects of smoking and drinking on the metabolism of toluence in occupational settings, 206 toluene-exposed men (mean age: 31.4 years) in shoemaking, painting, or surface-coating workshops together with 246 nonexposed control men (36.8 years) were studied for the time-weighted average intensities of exposure to toluene, hippuric acid concentration in shift-end urine samples, and the two social habits of smoking and drinking. The mean daily consumptions of cigarettes and ethanol were about 20 pieces and 10 g among smokers and drinkers, respectively. The geometric mean toluene concentration among the exposed subjects was about 20 ppm, with a maximum of 521 ppm. Regression analysis after classification of the subjects by smoking and drinking clearly demonstrated that the two social habits, when combined, markedly reduce the hippuric acid level in the urine of workers exposed to was a significant association between smoking and drinking habits, which hindered separate evaluation of the effects of the two habits on toluene metabolism. Comparison of the present results with the findings reported in the literature, however, suggested that the observed effects may be attributable to smoking rather than to drinking habits.     

Ultrastructural localization of adhalin in normal murine skeletal myofiber

The ultrastructural localization of adhalin and its relations to dystrophin, β-dystroglycan, and β-spectrin were studied in normal murine skeletal myofibers. The C-terminal peptides of adhalin and β-dystroglycan were synthesized based on their cDNAs, and the affinity-purified antibodies against these peptides were produced. Single-immunolabeling electron microscopy showed that the adhalin was located just inside the muscle plasma membrane or inside the myofiber a short distance from the plasma membrane. The adhalin signal was also noted at the sarcoplasmic side of plasmalemmd invaginations or at vesicular structures in subsarcolemmal areas. Double-immunogold-labeling electron microscopy disclosed a similar localization of dystrophin, β-dystroglycan, and β-spectrin. The close association of adhalin with dystrophin or β-dystroglycan was demonstrated by formation of doublets by signals of antibodies of adhalin with those of dystrophin or β-dystroglycan and was confirmed by statistical analyses. This study demonstrated that the location of adhalin is close to that of dystrophin and β-dystroglycan at the muscle plasma membrane.     

Glossopharyngeal neurinoma causing symptomatic hemorrhage: case report

A 86-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of swallowing disturbance and deterioration of consciousness. He had been aware of hearing disturbance on the right side for twelve months. Computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated an inhomogeneous hyperdense mass lesion, 3.2 X 2.3 cm in size, at the right cerebello-pontine angle, and ventricular enlargement with intraventricular hemorrhage. Skull tomogram revealed destructive enlargement of the right jugular foramen. The angiogram showed avascular mass with elevation of anterior inferior cerebellar artery, and downward shift of posterior inferior cerebellar artery. Operative and histological findings were compatible with glossopharyngeal neurinoma of Antoni type A dominance. This tumor had numerous abnormal vessels probably causing massive hemorrhage. Only fifteen cases of intracranial neurinoma with symptomatic hemorrhage have been reported in the world literature. This case is reported as the sixteenth one and the first glossopharyngeal neurinoma among them. Possible etiology of such hemorrhage is discussed.     

A case of supravalvular aortic stenosis with spontaneous remission of peripheral pulmonary stenosis

A 14-year-old junior high school boy was admitted to our institute. Previously he had been diagnosed as having peripheral pulmonary stenosis (Gay's classification, type IV) at the age of 2 years and 10 months. On this occasion, however, a diagnosis of supravalvular aortic stenosis was made, with a pressure gradient of about 120 mmHg, and all examinations showed spontaneous remission of peripheral pulmonary stenosis. He underwent a successful standard aortoplasty. This is the first reported case of spontaneous remission of peripheral pulmonary stenosis.     

Pulmonary sequestration associated with asymptomatic aspergillosis.

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration associated with asymptomatic aspergillosis is a rare case. We describe the case of a 65-year-old woman with intrapulmonary sequestration, anomalous systemic arterial supply to the left lower lobe and aspergillosis who underwent left lower lobectomy and ligation of an anomalous artery by Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Pathological examination showed the parenchymal distortion and chronic inflammation. Aspergillus were found in the cyst. VATS lobectomy for intralobar pulmonary sequestration is a safe and valid procedure.     

Synaptic reorganization in the medial amygdaloid nucleus after lesion of the accessory olfactory bulb of adult rat. II. New synapse formation in the medial amygdaloid nucleus by fibers from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

The rearrangement of terminations from the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BST) was examined in the medial amygdaloid nucleus (MAN) at 2 months following the lesion of the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) using an electron microscopy and degeneration study. At 2 days following a BST lesion, the number of degenerating synapses was 0.7 ± 0.1 (mean±S.E.M.) per unit area (2500 μm² in the molecular layer, and 3/0 ± 0.3 in the cellular part. At 2 months after an AOB lesion, the degenerating synapses from the AOB had completely disappeared from the MAN. The BST was then lesioned at 2 months after the AOB lesion and, 2 days following this BST lesion, the degenerating synapses were counted in MAN. The numbers observed were 3.3 ± 0.6 per unit area in the molecular layer and 4.5 ± 0.4 in the cellular part. Therefore, the number of these degenerating synapses increased significantly within the molecular layer, though, in the cellular part the number of synapses was not significantly elevated over control. No differences in postsynaptic profiles (ratio of synapses on dendritic spine to dendritic shaft) were observed after the AOB lesion. These results indicate that the BST fibers formed new synapses in the molecular layer following the denervation of AOB fibers. The possibility of new synapse formation by other afferent fibers in addition to the AOB fibers is discussed as is the relationship between lesion induced synaptic reorganization and functional recovery after injury.     

Left ventricular asynergy in patients with impending myocardial infarction: two-dimensional echocardiographic assessment

To determine the clinical significance of regional left ventricular asynergy in patients with impending myocardial infarction, we recorded two-dimensional echocardiograms (2DE) serially and performed coronary angiography immediately after the hospital admission in nine patients with initial impending infarction and their last anginal attacks were within 48 hours. Left ventricular asynergy on the first 2DE was observed in six of nine patients during symptom-free periods (Group A: LV asynergy group). Five of the six patients had significant coronary artery lesions (greater than or equal to 75% stenosis) in at least one major coronary artery. Intracoronary filling defects were detected in four of the five patients. Another three patients without asynergy (Group B) had significant fixed stenosis. Coronary artery spasm was observed in two patients during coronary angiography, but no patient had intracoronary filling defects. Intracoronary nitroglycerin (0.1-0.3 mg) reduced the severity of coronary artery narrowing in two patients. In addition, urokinase (240,000-480,000 IU) via the corresponding vessel (PTCR) in the remaining seven patients resulted in reduction in the severity of coronary artery stenosis in four patients, but not in the remaining three patients. Left ventricular wall movement in the asynergy group improved rapidly and no asynergy was observed by the seventh hospital day in five of the six patients. Successful PTCR treatment resulted in improvement of left ventricular wall movement. No asynergy was found in the non-asynergy group throughout their hospitalizations. These findings indicated that abnormal left ventricular wall movement is found in patients with impending myocardial infarction, even during symptom-free periods, but the wall movement gradually improves. The 2DE observations are useful for estimating the clinical status and for planning precise therapy for impending myocardial infarction.