The effect of midazolam on the memory during cesarean section and the modulation by flumazenil

In 30 patients (ASA-1) for elective Cesarean section who had given informed consent, characteristics of amnesia induced by midazolam (M) and their modulation by flumazenil (F) were examined. Spinal anesthesia was performed with dibucaine. After the delivery, the baby was shown to the mother. Then 21 patients were given bolus intravenous injection of M until the patient got into sleep and the inhalation of nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen was started. At the end of surgery bolus injection of F 0.1 mg was cumulatively repeated until the patient awoke. Nine patients were given only nitrous oxide and oxygen inhalation after the delivery. The remembrance of the baby face and the doses of M and F were compared. In group given M, 14 patients recalled their baby's face whereas 7 did not. The average doses of M and F in patients with memory were 69 micrograms.kg-1 and 2.5 micrograms.kg-1, respectively, whereas the average dose of M and F in patients without memory were 94 micrograms.kg-1 and 4.2 micrograms.kg-1, respectively. In the patients without M injection, all could recall the face of the baby. These results suggest that M could produce retrograde amnesia, when combined with nitrous oxide inhalation, which is not reversed by F.     

Reduction of tumorigenicity by an interferon-γ-gene-transduced tumor on another syngeneic tumor in a murine model

To evaluate the effect of interferon-γ-genetransduced cells, DS mice were inoculated into their footpads with syngeneic mammary adenocarcinoma SC42 admixed with interferon-γ producing mammary adenocarcinoma SC115Kγ, which had been established by an interferon-γ-gene transduction in another syngeneic mammary adenocarcinoma SC115 using retroviral vectors. These mice rejected both tumor cells and developed resistance to subsequent challenges with either SC115 or SC42 cells inoculated into their opposite posterior footpads. These results thus indicate that systemic immunological memory to each of the independent tumor cell lines developed in these mice. Although the SC42 cells admixed with irradiated SC115Kγ cells were rejected by these mice, the SC42 cells admixed with irradiated SC115neoR, in which the neo-gene had been transduced, were observed to proliferate. Tumor rejection was reversed by an in vivo administration of anti-interferon-γ antibody, thus suggesting that locally produced interferon-γ plays an important role in tumor elimination and immunological memory induction. In conclusion, interferon-γ-gene-transduced tumor cells are therefore considered to have a therapeutic potential for other types of malignant tumor cell lines.     

Primary anorectal malignant melanoma: Report of a case

(Received for publication on Aug. 18, 1997; accepted on May 15, 1998)     

Novel chloride channel gene mutations in two unrelated Japanese families with Becker's autosomal recessive generalized myotonia

We investigated the skeletal muscle voltage-gated chloride channel gene (CLCN1) in two unrelated Japanese patients with Becker's myotonia congenita. The non-myotonic parents of each patient were consanguineous. The proband of each family shares generalized myotonia, transient weakness after rest, and leg muscle hypertrophy. However, the disease severity related to the degree of myotonia differed, even in view of the response to long train nerve stimulation tests. CLCN1 gene analysis revealed a novel Ala659Val missense mutation identified to be homozygous in the more severe patient, while a novel Gln445Stop nonsense mutation was present in the other patient. Both mutations were absent in 90 Japanese normal controls. This is the first report of Japanese cases of Becker's myotonia congenita with CLCN1 gene mutations.     

Severe stenosis of the internal carotid artery presenting as loss of consciousness due to the presence of a primitive hypoglossal artery: a case report

BACKGROUND: Symptoms of ischemic attacks in the internal carotid system usually involve focal cerebral dysfunction, i.e., hemiparesis or aphasia. However, an ischemic attack in the vertebrobasilar artery system usually presents with combined symptoms. The variety of manifestations included in the vertebrobasilar profile makes the potential pattern of symptoms considerably more variable and complex than that in the carotid system. Manifestations can include syncope and also vertigo. METHOD AND RESULTS: A 42-year-old woman experienced frequent attacks of faintness with vertigo. Angiography demonstrated severe stenosis of the left internal carotid artery with a persistent primitive hypoglossal artery just distal to the stenosis. The right internal carotid artery was normal and cross circulation through the anterior communicating artery was not well developed. Both vertebral arteries were hypoplastic. The patient underwent carotid endarterectomy and, thereafter the episodes of syncope completely disappeared. CONCLUSION: It was supposed that global ischemia including the brain stem occurred because of stenosis of the left internal carotid artery attributable to the presence of a primitive hypoglossal artery.     

Stresgenin B, an inhibitor of heat-induced heat shock protein gene expression, produced by Streptomyces sp. AS-9

Stresgenin B was isolated as an inhibitor of heat-induced heat shock protein (HSP) gene expression from a culture broth of Streptomyces sp. AS-9 by silica gel chromatography and HPLC. The molecular formula of the novel compound was determined as C11H13NO5 by high resolution FAB-MS analysis, and the structure was determined by UV, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY spectra. Stresgenin B inhibited heat-induced luciferase reporter-gene expression directed by the human hsp70B promoter in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells at concentrations lower than the concentrations for inhibition of dexamethasone-induced luciferase reporter-gene expression directed by the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-LTR promoter. The inhibition of heat-induced reporter gene expression was evident even when cells were exposed to stresgenin B only during heat stress treatment. Moreover, the compound inhibited heat-induced syntheses of hsp72/73, hsp90, and hsp110 and thereby suppressed the induction of thermotolerance. Stresgenin B showed moderate cytotoxic activities against several neoplastic cell lines and also showed antibacterial activities against Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus strains.     

Endogenous ATP released by electrical field stimulation causes contraction via P2x- and P2y-purinoceptors in the isolated tail artery of rats

Electrical field stimulation (EFS) caused contraction of isolated tail arteries of rats. The EFS-induced contraction showed frequency-dependence and was entirely abolished by the sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (1 x 10(-7) M). The EFS-induced (at 20 Hz) contraction was reduced by about 60% in the presence of phentolamine (1 x 10(-6) M). Therefore, later experiments were carried out in the presence of phentolamine. Pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulphonic acid (PPADS) (1 x 10(-8)-1 x 10(-6) M) and basilen blue E-3G (3 x 10(-5)-5 x 10(-5) M), P2-receptor antagonists, significantly inhibited the contraction evoked by EFS. In addition, PPADS significantly inhibited the contractions induced by ATP (1 x 10(-4) M) and a selective P2x-receptor agonist, alpha,beta-methylene ATP (1 x 10(-6) M). In contrast, basilen blue E-3G did not inhibit alpha,beta-methylene ATP-induced contraction. The ecto-ATPase activator apyrase (5 and 10 U/ml) significantly reduced the EFS-induced contractions. These findings suggest that endogenous ATP released by EFS causes contractions of rat tail artery via both the P2x-receptors and P2y-receptors.