Sodium Valproate-lnduced Cardiovascular Abnormalities in the JchlCR Mouse Fetus

Sodium valproate was administered to Jcl:ICR mice in order to evaluate teratogenicity in the cardiovascular system. A single dose of 600mg/kg of sodium valproate was injected intraperitoneally on gestational day 6, 7, 8 or 9. On day 18 of gestation, dams were laparotomized to observe incidence and type of cardiovascular abnormality in live fetuses. Cardiovascular abnormalities were found most frequently in the group treated on day 7, being recognized in 86% of litters (19/22) and in 29% of live fetuses (70/238). Among these, there were 28 cases of transposition of the great arteries, 13 of double outlet right ventricle, 11 of endocardial cushion defect, 9 of ventricular septal defect, 5 of tricuspid atresia, and 4 of hypoplastic left heart syndrome.     

Spontaneous peripelvic extravasation: reports of two cases

Spontaneous peripelvic extravasation must be distinguished from spontaneous rupture of the renal pelvis in urological emergency. The literatures revealed 42 cases of peripelvic extravasation and 35 cases of rupture of the renal pelvis in Japan. Most of them were caused by urolithiasis and malignant tumors. We report 2 cases of spontaneous peripelvic extravasation caused by urolithiasis, which were successfully treated conservatively.     

Changes in serum myoglobin levels caused by tourniquet ischemia under normothermic and hypothermic conditions

Serum myoglobin levels have been found to be elevated for a few hours after removal of a tourniquet. In the present study, levels of serum myoglobin were measured by radioimmunoassay from local blood samples in patients who were treated with surgery of the hand in a bloodless field. After removal of the tourniquet blood samples were obtained from the antecubital vein of each patient immediately after release, five minutes, one hour, and 24 hours later. In these samples the serum myoglobin levels were not influenced by the mode of anesthesia, tourniquet time, or specific type of surgery. When the upper extremity was cooled with ice water before application of the tourniquet, however, the increase of serum myoglobin was statistically significantly inhibited when compared with the normothermic condition. Muscle injury due to tourniquet ischemia may be decreased by cooling of the upper extremity prior to tourniquet application.     

A case of recrudescent groove pancreatitis, which was in remission by proximal gastrectomy with vagotomy for gastric cancer]

This report describes our experience with a 60 year old male who suffered from a recrudescence of groove pancreatitis. He had been treated by conservative medication therapy by proton pump inhibitor used for therapy of duodenal ulcer, and was in remission. During a follow-up one year later, endoscopy revealed gastric cancer, for which a proximal gastrectomy and vagotomy were performed. The patient continues to remain in remission for the groove pancreatitis. Our experience with the clinical course of this disease, in which treatment for duodenal ulcer was used effectively, offers new insights into the progression and therapy of groove pancreatitis.     

Duplicated origin of right vertebral artery with rudimentary and accessory left vertebral arteries

Summary We observed a rare cerebrovascular anomaly in a patient with brain-stem infarction. Two right vertebral arteries arose from the subclavian artery and communicated directly with each other under the transverse foramen of the fourth cervical vertebra. The left vertebral artery consisted of a rudimentary artery that arose from the left subclavian artery, ran through the transverse foramen of the sixth cervical vertebra and then tapered down to disappear at the fourth/fifth cervical vertebrae, plus a second, accessory artery that arose from a branch of the left thyrocervical trunk, ran through the transverse foramen of the fifth cervical vertebra and tapered off to disappear at the first/second cervical vertebrae.     

Right heart bypass operation of complex cardiac anomalies in 4 patients with viscero-atrial heterotaxic syndrome

Four patients with viscero-atrial heterotaxic syndrome underwent a right heart bypass operation. 2 patients had right isomerism, and two had left isomerism. 3 patients had common atrio-ventricular canal, three had double outlet right ventricle, one had mitral valve hypoplasia, and one had double inlet right ventricle. All patients had anomalous systemic or pulmonary venous drainage. Redirection of systemic venous drainage was accomplished by total cavo-pulmonary shunt (TCPS) (2 patients), atrial baffle (1 patient), and intraatrial conduit (1 patient). In one patient underwent TCPS, regurgitant common atrioventricular valve was replaced with a prosthetic valve. One who had total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (type Ib) died after cardiac repair. The three survivors are in improved condition. The right heart bypass operation, like total cavopulmonary shunt or connection, simplifies the redirection of systemic venous drainage and offers improved results in the surgical treatment of complex cardiovascular anomalies with viscero-atrial heterotaxic syndrome.     

Experimental study on the role of prostaglandin D2 in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma]

Various kinds of chemical mediators have been implicated in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. PGD2 is a cyclooxygenase product which has various physiological effects. In this experimental study, we investigated the role of PGD2 in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. In a bioassay system, PGD2 caused dose-dependent contractile responses in non-sensitized guinea pig trachea and lung tissue strips. The subthreshold concentration of PGD2 in both strips was 25 ng/ml. Acetylcholine-induced contractile responses in both strips were significantly increased by continuous infusion of PGD2. In the experimental model of bronchial asthma, the levels of PGD2 were significantly increased in serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue of sensitized guinea pigs after antigen challenge. We have also reported that the levels of PGD2 in BALF were elevated in patients with stable state bronchial asthma. These results suggest that PGD2 may be a key substance that increases airway responsiveness and induces asthmatic attacks.