Nonfluoroscopic Guidance for Catheter Placement into the Coronary Sinus under Direct Vision Using a Balloon-Tipped Cardioscope

The right atrial posterior septum, including the coronary sinus (CS) ostium, is an important landmark in radio frequency catheter ablation therapy for supraventricular tachycardia or atrial flutter. The anatomical findings around the CS ostium would be useful to determine a target site or line during catheter ablation. The aim of the study was to test the ability of the imaging catheter to identify structures in the posterior septal area of the right atrium and to evaluate the feasibility of guidance for catheter placement in the CS using a cardiosccpe that we recently developed. In 12 anesthetized dogs, the Cardioscope, consisting of a deflectable 7 Fr fiberoptic endoscope with an inflatable and transparent balloon, was introduced into the right atrium via the femoral vein. The cardioscope was manipulated to observe the right atrial posterior septum. A deflectable electrode catheter was inserted via the jugular vein and positioned in the CS under cardioscopic guidance. In 10 of 12 dogs, the right atrial posterior septum, including the CS ostium, and the tendon of Todaro could be anatomically identified by cardioscopy. It was possible to position an electrode catheter in the CS in all 10 dogs under direct vision without fluoroscopy. But the CS ostium could not be detected in the remaining two dogs, although the cardioscope was placed at as many sites as possible. No complication occurred. The balloon-tipped cardioscope appears to be useful in observing the right atrial posterior septum and in guiding an electrode catheter into the CS.     

Heinz Body Hemolytic Anemia Induced by DQ-2511, a New Anti-ulcer Drug, in Dogs

DQ-2511, a new anti-ulcer drug, was administered to beagle dogsfor 4 weeks to investigate the mechanism whereby this drug inducedhemolytic anemia and its reversibility in comparison with ß-acetylphenylhydrazine.Hemolytic anemia accompanied by an increase in the number ofcells containing Heinz bodies that was preceded by a markeddecrease in blood-reduced glutathione concentration was observedin dogs receiving 600 mg/kg of DQ-2511, but only a slight increasein the methemoglobin level was noted.ß-Acetylphenylhydrazine,however, caused hemolytic anemia accompanied by marked increasesin both Heinz body-containing cells and methemoglobin concentration,but the blood-reduced glutathione concentration was not decreasedconsistently with the formation of Heinz bodies. Hemolytic anemiadisappeared after a 4-week recovery period in the dogs thatreceived DQ-2511. These results suggest that decreases in reducedglutathione in erythrocytes play an important role in the anemiaand Heinz body formation induced by DQ-2511, but not by ß-acetylphenylhydrazine.     

MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGIC ANALYSIS OF JAPANESE PATIENTS WITH MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM

Background. Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) causes molluscum contagiosum (MC) in both children and adults. Recent studies have revealed that the DNA of MCV can be classified into two major types by restriction enzyme cleavage patterns; however, the relationship between MCV types and the clinical features has not been fully understood. Our study was conducted to examine whether there are geographic differences in the incidence of MCV types and whether a correlation exists between MCV types and the age, sex, and clinical status of the patients. Methods. Specimens were obtained from 171 Japanese patients. The total DNA was extracted and digested with the restriction enzymes, BamH I, Hind III, and Cla I, respectively. Specimens were then electrophoresed in agarose gels. The gels were stained with ethidium bromide and photographs were taken under transillumination. Results. Six different cleavage patterns were observed; they were classified into two major types, MCV 1 and MCV 2, consisting of two MCV 1-variants, and MCV 2 prototype, and three MCV 2-variants. The ratio of MCV 1 to MCV 2 was 13:1. Mcv 1 was commonly detected in children (98%) and adult Women (92%). MCV 2 was more frequently isolated from adult men (44%) and from patients with human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (75%). Conclusion. MCV types found in Japanese children and adult women were predominantly MCV 1 and less frequently MCV 2. This pattern is similar to that observed in European countries and Australia, suggesting a high frequency and World-wide distribution of MCV 1. The higher incidence of MCV 2 among adult men and HIV-positive patients may indicate that transmission routes of MCV 1 and MCV 2 is somewhat different of which the latter may be in part by sexual contact.