Low-grade myxofibrosarcoma invaded into the underlying skeletal muscle

Myxofibrosarcoma is a rare, soft-tissue sarcoma which is classified into three main subtypes according to cellularity and cell atypia: low, intermediate and high grade. A 44-year-old Japanese female presented with a low-grade myxofibrosarcoma on the left forearm. The lesion was completely resected. Histopathologically, the tumor was remarkably hypocellular and exhibited only mild atypia. However, it rapidly invaded into the underlying brachioradial muscle. The present case clearly indicated that a low-grade myxofibrosarcoma can invade into the deeper tissues including muscle even though its histological grade is very low.     

Carboplatin‐induced severe hypersensitivity reaction: Role of IgE‐dependent basophil activation and FcεRI

Basophil activation was observed in patients with a history of carboplatin‐induced severe hypersensitivity reaction (HR). However, the precise mechanism by which carboplatin induces basophil activation and the associated surrogate markers remains to be elucidated. To investigate whether IgE‐dependent mechanisms, including the overexpression of FcεRI, participate in carboplatin‐induced basophil activation, 13 ovarian cancer patients were enrolled: 5 with a history of carboplatin‐induced severe hypersensitivity reaction within the past 2 years, and 8 with no such history. The expression levels of FcεRI, IgE, and CD203c on basophils were measured using a flow cytometer. Immunoglobulin E‐dependent basophil activation was evaluated by testing for IgE passive sensitization using lactic acid, and by testing for phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase inhibition, using wortmannin. In three patients positive for carboplatin hypersensitivity, pretreatment with wortmannin almost completely inhibited carboplatin‐induced basophil activation (P < 0.05). In a healthy control subject, whose own IgE showed no response to carboplatin, acquired reactivity to carboplatin when exposed to plasma from patients positive for carboplatin hypersensitivity. This did not occur when the same experiment was carried out using plasma from the patients negative for carboplatin hypersensitivity. Moreover, pretreatment with omalizumab, a monoclonal anti‐IgE antibody, almost completely blocked carboplatin‐induced basophil activation in the plasma of patients positive for carboplatin hypersensitivity. On further investigation, the HR‐positive group had significantly higher levels of FcεRI compared with the negative group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, an IgE‐dependent mechanism incorporating FcεRI overexpression participates in carboplatin‐induced severe HR. These results establish the relevance of monitoring the pharmacodynamic changes of basophils to prevent carboplatin‐induced severe HR.     

Reliability of measurement using Image J for reach distance and movement angles in the functional reach test

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change (MDC) of reach distance and movement angle analyses using Image J. [Participants and Methods] Thirty-eight healthy young males performed the functional reach test (FRT) twice, and their reach movements were recorded using a digital video camera. Image J was used to combine the digital photographs taken at the start position and maximum reach and to measure each movement. The measurements recorded were the movement distance of the third metacarpal bone (reach distance), anterior-superior iliac spine, and trochanter major, and the angles recorded were the acromion-malleolus lateralis, acromion-trochanter major, and trochanter major-malleolus lateralis. The reliability of all the measurements was analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), Bland-Altman plots, and MDCs. [Results] The ICCs (1, 1) were >0.80 for all the outcomes. The Bland-Altman analysis revealed no systematic bias in any outcome. The MDC of reach distance was 18.3 mm. [Conclusion] Measurement using Image J for reach distance and movement angles in the FRT showed acceptable high test-retest reliability. Measurement of the FRT and the MDC calculated in this study could be used as a reference for further research.Key words: Reliability, Image J, Functional reach test     

Magnesium deficiency exacerbates and pretreatment improves outcome following traumatic brain injury in rats: 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy and behavioral studies

The biochemical mechanisms mediating delayed or secondary tissue injury after central nervous system trauma remain speculative. We have demonstrated previously that traumatic brain injury in rats causes a rapid decline in tissue intracellular free magnesium [Mg]f and total magnesium [Mg]t concentrations, which were significantly correlated with injury severity. In order to examine the relationship between magnesium and traumatic brain injury, we assessed whether (1) magnesium deficiency exacerbates or (2) magnesium treatment improves posttraumatic outcome following fluid-percussion brain injury (2.0-2.4 atm) in rats. Animals placed on magnesium-deficient diet for 14 days showed a 15% decrease in brain [Mg]f as measured by phosphorus (31P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Magnesium deficiency significantly exacerbated neurologic dysfunction and increased mortality following injury when compared to normally fed saline-treated controls. Conversely, pretreatment with magnesium sulfate (0.1 mEq) 15 min before brain injury prevented the fall in [Mg]f observed by 31P MRS in saline-treated animals and significantly improved both cellular bioenergetic state and chronic posttraumatic neurologic outcome. These combined observations suggest that alterations in brain [Mg]f after trauma may play a role in the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury.     

Non-invasive tissue oxygen monitoring by near-infrared spectroscopy

Biological tissues are relatively transparent to light in near infrared region. Brain oxygen metabolism was non-invasively studied by the simultaneous measurement of hemoglobin (Hb) oxygenation and cytochrome oxidase (Cyt. aa3) redox state in the rat brain using near infrared transmission spectrophotometer. Wavelength pairs at 700-805 nm and 830-805 nm were used for the measurements of Hb oxygenation level and of the redox state of cyt. oxidase in situ. Change in the brain blood volume was also monitored by the absorption change at 805 nm. Our estimation of the oxygenation level of brain Hb revealed that present optical measurement picks up mainly that of venous blood. Sharp reduction of the oxidase occurred at the oxygen concentration below 15% in the inspired gas. But above 30% O2, about 85% of the cyt. oxidase was in the oxidized state which was almost constant up to 100% O2. Applications of our techniques for the studies of brain metabolism in acute hemorrhage and in Ca++-antagonist administration were also presented. This non-invasive optical method for the study of human brain metabolism is concluded to be a promissing technique.     

Suppression of the tail flick reflex by electroacupuncture delivered at the intra- and extrasegmental needling points

Electroacupuncture effects conveyed by A beta afferent nerve impulses from the different dermatomes, the Zusanli and the Hoku, was compared using the tail flick reflex in lightly anesthetized rats. The Zusanli stimulation decreased the EMG activity, but the threshold temperature did not change. These effects were not antagonized by naloxone (1 mg/kg). The Hoku stimulation also produced the suppression of the EMG activity without the increase of the threshold temperature. However, these effects were antagonized by naloxone (1 mg/kg). These results suggest that intrasegmental stimulation presynaptically inhibits the input of the noxious message in the spinal cord through the non-opiate system, while extrasegmental stimulation presynaptically inhibits this input through the opiate system.     

The inhibitory effect and the mechanism of ethanol absorption by L-carnosine zinc complex in mouse gastrointestinal tract]

The effect of L-carnosine-zinc complex(Car-Zn) on ethanol absorption was investigated after oral administration(adm) to mice. One hour after oral adm of Car-Zn, and 14C-ethanol was given orally or intraperitoneally(i.p.). After passage of time, the blood was drawn from the tail vein, and 14C-radioactivities determined. The Car-Zn showed a dose-dependent inhibition of the appearance of 14C-radioactivities in blood following oral 14C-ethanol loading, while Zn acetate did not induce any alteration as compared with control. Car-Zn pretreatment did not induce any change in the blood 14C-radioactivity when ethanol was given i.p. The 14C-radioactivity and zinc in gastrointestinal tract after oral adm of Car-Zn and 14C-ethanol showed significantly higher levels than those of control for 7 hr. Distribution of 14C-radioactivities in other organs of Car-Zn treated mice were lower than those of control 3 hr after adm, while it was similar or higher than those of control 7 hr after adm. The excretions of 14C-radioactivity through expiration in Car-Zn group was a lower than that of control. Also, the urinary and fecal excretions of 14C-radioactivity were low values at 5.0% and 0.5% of the administered dose 72 hr after adm, respectively. Also, the 14C-radioactivities remaining in the organs did not detect or were very low values. In vitro study, Car-Zn stimulated the metabolism of ethanol to acetaldehyde and acetic acid in 9,000 g supernatant of small intestine. The major route of excretions of 14C-radioactivity may be excreted into the expired air. The results suggest that Car-Zn shows a long-term adhesive and permeable action on gastrointestinal tract in the mouse; as a result, this may inhibited ethanol absorption.