Influence of pyrazine derivatives on the day of vaginal opening in juvenile female rats

Effects of pyrazine derivatives on the day of the first opening of the vagina in juvenile female rats were studied. Tetraethyl and 2,5-dimethyl pyrazine caused a significant delay in the first vaginal opening day of juvenile female rats, but no delay was noted in the case of 2,5-diethyl or triethyl pyrazine. These results suggest that tetraethyl and 2,5-dimethyl pyrazine cause delays in the onset of puberty in juvenile female rats.     

The evaluation of cystoscopy in the screening of asymptomatic microhematuria

As a prospective study on asymptomatic microhematuria, complete urological examinations including cystoscopy, IVP, ultrasound and urinary cytology were performed on 422 patients over 40 years old between January 1987 and December 1988 (group A). The results of group A was compared with that of retrospective study on 266 patients, who had incomplete urological examination between January 1984 and December 1985 (group B). Cystoscopy was performed on 321 patients (87.2%) in group A and on 108 patients (40.6%) in group B. Bladder tumor was found in 10 cases (2.4%) in group A, including 7 cases of male patients (5.7%), but in only 1 case (0.4%) in group B. Since the negative rate of abnormal urinary cytology was 50% and that of abnormal IVP was 90% in 10 cases of bladder tumor in group A, cystoscopy was considered to be an essential examination for the screening of patients with asymptomatic microhematuria over 40 years old patients.     

Pulse cyclophosphamide for severe neuropsychiatric lupus.

We studied the effect of parenteral pulse cyclophosphamide therapy in nine patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus and severe central nervous system involvement. Seven patients had focal neurological deficits and/or seizures associated with abnormalities on cerebrospinal fluid analysis and/or magnetic resonance imaging. Two patients had organic brain syndrome with psychosis and normal cerebrospinal fluid and/or magnetic resonance imaging analysis. Six patients were unresponsive to treatment with high dose corticosteroid. Cyclophosphamide, 0.75-1.0 g/m2 body surface area, was administered intravenously every month for at least 2 months. Eight patients had a complete recovery or recovered with minor residuals. Cyclophosphamide was well tolerated with few side effects. We conclude that parenteral pulse cyclophosphamide is an effective adjunctive therapy for the management of patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus and central nervous system symptoms.     

Current concept and future research directions of mild cognitive impairment

Alzheimer's disease (AD) generally begins with mild memory problems which occur in an insidious manner and progresses to the development of multiple cognitive impairments. There is a ‘gray’ area between what is classified as ‘normal’ and what is classified as ‘dementia’, currently called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In this article, a case of MCI is described, and the diagnosis, assessment, subclassification (pre‐Alzheimer type and white matter lesion type) and future therapeutic plans for MCI are reviewed.