Relationship of beta2-microglobulin to arterial stiffness in Japanese subjects.

Beta2-Microglobulin (beta2m) is related to inflammatory diseases, but there have been few reports of a relationship between beta2m and atherosclerosis. We have examined the influence of beta2m on brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) to clarify whether it is related to arterial stiffness. baPWV, beta2m, C-reactive protein (CRP), and conventional risk factors were measured in 614 males and 158 females. The adjusted means of baPWV were compared with the quartiles of beta2m, and significant differences in baPWV were observed across the quartiles of beta2m (p = 0.037). After being adjusted for potential confounders, quartile 4 of beta2m, quartile 4 of CRP, and the combination of high beta2m plus high CRP were significantly associated with a high value of PWV (quartile 4 of beta2m: odds ratio [OR] 2.53, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-4.89; quartile 4 of CRP: OR 2.27, 95% CI, 1.18-4.34; high beta2m plus high CRP: OR 5.60, 95% CI, 2.38-13.2). These results suggest that beta2m is associated with an increase of arterial stiffness. Further studies are needed to clarify whether beta2m is related to atherosclerotic diseases, and whether the combination of beta2m and CRP measurement is a useful predictor for the development of atherosclerosis.     

A case of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with rapid progress in a young man]

A 17-year-old man was admitted to hospital because of epigastric pain. Various imaging studies showed a solid tumor (4cm in diameter) in the tail of the pancreas, multiple hypovascular tumors in liver. Serum levels of DUPAN2, SPAN1 and NSE were elevated slightly. Biopsy of hepatic tumor demonstrated that tumor cells had eosinophilic cytoplasm generally and unevenly distributed polymorphic nucleus. These data suggested that this tumor is poorly differentiated pancreatic carcinoma originated from the epithelium. Therefore, we administered 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin, combined with gemcitabine. The clinical status improved temporarily by the treatment, however, worsened rapidly. He died 81days after the treatment. Final diagnosis of autopsy was pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in the young patients is rare, and we reported this case in addition to consideration on literature.     

In vivo measurement of energy metabolism and the concomitant monitoring of electroencephalogram in experimental cerebral ischemia

The energy metabolites in rat brain in vivo were measured by using topical magnetic resonance (TMR) during the whole course of ischemia, in combination with the concomitant monitoring of electroencephalogram (EEG). Immediate loss of high energy phosphorus compounds, phosphocreatine (PCr) and ATP, resulted in the flattening of EEG after the induction of ischemia. PCr and ATP returned to almost normal level 30 min after recirculation of the ischemic brain, but EEG showed no recovery and the abnormality lasted for 12 h. The measurement of in vivo 31P-NMR is essential for the decision of the convalescence of cellular function in the brain.     

The Production of Cardiovascular Malformations with Combined Use of Antisera to Kidney and Fetal Heart

ABSTRACT: Wistar rats were administered rabbit anti-fetal-rat-heart serum (AFHS) alone on day 9 of gestation or in combination with sub-teratogenic doses of rabbit anti-rat-kidney serum (AKS).
The results showed that the incidence of cardiovascular malformation was low (4.3%) when AFHS alone was administered. However, the incidence markedly increased to 42.4% when a small dose (O.lml/lOOg) of AKS was given on day 9 followed by 0.9ml/lOOg of AFHS on day 10. Ventricular septal defects, aortic arch anomalies, and double outlet right ventricle were the most common cardiovascular malformations observed. These results were similar to our previous finding using adult rat heart antiserum, and suggest that AFHS alone is not teratogenic, but when combined with a sub-teratogenic dose of AKS it becomes teratogenic and organ specific.     

Effect of brain compression on pyramidal tract responses in the cat

The effect of brain compression on pyramidal tract responses (PTRs) was studied in anesthetized, ventilated cats using a supratentorial extradural balloon. At an intracranial pressure (ICP) of 40 mm Hg, the amplitude of the D wave (direct pyramidal tract cell activity) on the compression side decreased to 50% of the control. Loss of all PTRs occurred at an ICP higher than 80 mm Hg and a balloon volume greater than 12% of the brain volume. Both direct effect of the mass lesion on the supratentorial pyramidal tract and compression of the pyramidal tract in the brain stem due to transtentorial herniation are thought to be responsible for loss of PTRs. After evacuation of the balloon, the considerable and prolonged suppression of the D-wave amplitude, especially on the compression side, suggested that only partial restoration of pyramidal tract electrical activity had occurred.