Manganese Ions Induce Tonic Contraction after Relaxation in a High-K+ Medium in Ileal Longitudinal Smooth Muscle of Guinea-pig

Abstract— In ileal longitudinal muscle 5Mm Mn²⁺ inhibited completely the K⁺ (60 Mm )-induced tonic tension to the base line; however, the tension progressively increased to above the level of original tonic response evoked by K⁺ after 3 h in the presence of Mn²⁺. Tetrodotoxin (5 × 10^?5 m ) had no influence on the tension development in the presence of Mn²⁺ in the high-K⁺ medium. Mn²⁺ also increased the tension in a high-K⁺, Ca²⁺-free medium. The Ca²⁺ antagonist, gallopamil (10^?6 m ) inhibited the development of tension in the presence of Mn²⁺ in the high-K⁺ medium. The ⁴⁵Ca uptake determined by the lanthanum method remained unchanged from control levels after 3 h of the 5 Mm Mn²⁺ application in the high-K⁺ medium in spite of the development of the tension. The manganese uptake in the high-K⁺ medium, increased in accordance with the increase of duration of 5 Mm Mn²⁺ application. Gallopamil inhibited manganese uptake in the high-K⁺ medium. These results suggest that Mn²⁺ firstly reduces K⁺-induced tension by inhibition of Ca²⁺ influx; subsequently, Mn²⁺ ions accumulate in the intracellular compartments through voltage-operated Ca²⁺ channels and may activate contractile proteins in the ileal muscle.     

CASE REPORT: Steatonecrosis in the upper abdomen following transcatheter arterial embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

A 66-year-old female with liver cirrhosis was treated by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for a small hepatocellular carcinoma. She developed steatonecrosis with tenderness which occurred in the upper abdomen after TAE. The hepatic falciform artery from the middle hepatic artery was detected by arteriography. Necrosis in the upper abdomen was considered to be due to ischaemic changes caused by micromaterials for embolization of this artery, injuries of hepatic arterial endothelia slowly caused by carcinostatics, and chemotoxicity. It was considered that such complication as observed in this patient should be taken into consideration when performing TAE.     

Kinetics of serum cytokines in adults undergoing peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation

Summary. We investigated the serum cytokine levels (G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-l/?, IL-3 and IL-6) using an ELISA in 14 patients with haematological malignancies undergoing peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation (PBPCT). Serum G-CSF levels in all patients rose immediately after PBPCT, then gradually decreased as the neutrophil counts began to rise. No detectable serum levels of GM-CSF or IL-lp were observed, but serum levels of IL-3 rose transiently immediately following PBPCT. Serum levels of JL-6 rose transiently during a fever in four patients. These observations suggest that G-CSF and L 3 may contribute to the early haemopoietic reconstitution in PBPCT.     

Aortic aneurysm in a four-year-old child with tuberous sclerosis

We present a case of aortic aneurysm in a four-year-old child complicated with tuberous sclerosis. We used the same general principles as for adult patients and successfully managed our patient. Our methods included the use of isoflurane plus epidural anaesthesia, dopamine to maintain blood pressure, and induced mild hypothermia to reduce brain metabolism and to prevent spinal cord damage during aortic cross-clamping. Intensive monitoring including EEG was beneficial to the anaesthetic management.     

A New Pacemaker for Monitoring Asystole and Prevention of Adams-Stokes Syndrome and Sudden Cardiac Death

Patients with suspected Adams-Stokes syndrome are examined by Holter monitoring. During the monitoring, there is the danger of syncopes occurring and there are even reports of sudden cardiac death. We therefore developed a pacemaker for cardiac arrest monitoring and the prevention of Adams-Stokes syndrome and sudden cardiac death, which has the following functions: (1) the longest escape interval of the pacemaker not exceeding the value at which syncope is induced is determined by the decline of the mean heart rate including the asystole to a certain threshold rate; (2) once the pacemaker escapes from the interval it continues pacing for a while at a physiological rate to allow recover from ischemias in organs or tissues; and (3) to prevent overdrive suppression to the heart, the pacing rate gradually declines and stops pacing until the next asystole. This pacemaker is useful not only in the diagnosis of Adams-Stokes syndrome but also in pharmacological and pathophysiological studies and in determining when pacing should cease.