Chronic hypertension induced by streptozotocin in rats

Summary An intravenous injection of 40 or 65 mg/kg streptozotocin induced not only diabetes but also severe hypertension in rats. Whereas the hyperglycemia developed fully within a few days after the injection of streptozotocin, the hypertension progressively advanced and reached maximum level several weeks after the treatment and lasted more than 20 weeks. Twenty mg/kg streptozotocin did not induce hyperglycemia but significantly increased blood pressure several weeks after the treatment. Arrest of growth, polyuria, glycosuria, hyperlipemia and lenticular cataracts developed in the animals treated with 40 or 65 mg/kg streptozotocin, but in none of the animals treated with 20 mg/kg. In histological examinations in the 24th week after the treatment, degranulation and necrosis in the pancreatic -cells, and vacuolization and deposition of PAS-positive materials in the renal proximal tubules were found in the animals treated with 40 or 65 mg/kg streptozotocin.     

Oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide elimination during epinephrine-induced arrhythmias in humans

Key words  cardiac arrhythmias - oxygen uptake - carbon dioxide elimination     

Dynamic acquisition with a three-headed SPECT system: application to technetium 99m-SQ30217 myocardial imaging

A method for SPECT data acquisition, "continuous repetitive rotation acquisition," was developed with a high-sensitivity three-headed SPECT system. The method was applied to the dynamic imaging of 99mTc-SQ30217, a new myocardial imaging agent. After acquisition and reconstruction of SPECT data every minute, projection images at arbitrary intervals were used for tomographic reconstruction to determine the best timing of SPECT imaging in 99mTc-SQ30217. Based on a comparison of several possible acquisition intervals, SPECT data acquisition within 9 min after injection is recommended because of high myocardial uptake (myocardium-to-lung ratio, 2.83 +/- 0.42 (mean +/- s.e.m.) at 3-6 min) and relatively low hepatic uptake (myocardium-to-liver ratio, 0.85 +/- 0.13 at 3-6 min). The rate constant of the clearance of 99mTc-SQ30217 from the myocardium obtained by SPECT was: k1 = 0.249 +/- 0.050 per min (average half-life = 2.8 min) and k2 = 0.012 +/- 0.004/min (average half-life = 58 min). The continuous repetitive rotation acquisition SPECT study appears useful for imaging SQ30217 with its rapidly changing myocardial distribution.     

Clinical study of growing up aneurysms: report of 25 cases

Twenty-five cases of patients with growing up aneurysms are reported. Growth of the aneurysm was confirmed by repeated angiography within 1 month in 11 cases (short-term group), and for over 1 month in the other 14 cases (long-term group) following the initial angiography. Clinical history, shape and growth pattern of aneurysms, as well as hemodynamic factors that effect the growth were investigated in each group. The aneurysms were classified according to the shape into dome-type (smooth contour) and bleb-type (irregular contour). In all cases of the short-term group, the first angiography was performed because of rupture of the aneurysm. In this group, 4 cases bled again because of enlargement or the development of an aneurysmal bleb. Growth rate and the initial size of the aneurysm did not effect the potential of re-rupture. In the long-term group, 9 cases out of 14 (64.3%) had "non-ruptured aneurysm" at the time of first angiography. In the follow up, 5 cases were ruptured (two because of re-bleeding and three for the first time). In 3 out of these 5 cases, a bleb was demonstrated on initial angiography, and in another case, a bleb was demonstrated in follow-up angiography. Only one case ruptured because of the growth of the aneurysmal dome. Most of the aneurysms that rupture, in the follow-up survey, showed a larger growth rate in comparison with aneurysms that did not rupture. Many cases of this long-term group were associated with hypertension or vascular abnormalities which would effect the aneurysmal growth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Apparently unprovoked seizures precipitated by prefebrile condition

We investigated the clinical features of the patients whose body temperature exceeded 38 degrees C, in 0.5-6 hours after an afebrile seizure (prefebrile seizure). Patients with meningoencephalitis and epilepsy were excluded from this study. From May 1995 to April 1997, seven cases of prefebrile seizures admitted to PL hospital. Three of the 7 had a status and one had a cluster of seizures. Five patients had had several febrile seizures prior to the onset of prefebrile seizures. One developed epilepsy during the follow-up period. We speculate that prefebrile seizures have several factors of complex febrile seizures and require a careful follow-up.     

Effects of small dose of brotizolam on P300

Nine healthy men (mean age, 22.2 years) participated in two experimental sessions cross-overed randomly in a double blind manner; one with a placebo and the other with 0.125 mg of brotizolam (BTZ) administered in the morning. Resting electroencephalogram and event-related potential under oddball paradigm was recorded before and 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after the administration. Mean 30-msec bin amplitude from 240 msec to 450 msec after the stimulus was compared between placebo and drug sessions in order to observe P300. Brotizolam reduced the amplitude of P300 at 6 h after administration. It was noted that the effects of BTZ were most marked at Fz.     

The studies of hemodynamic changes and liver uptake in a combination of ATP stress test and low workload exercise test on myocardial scintigraphy

A pharmacological adenosine-tri-phosphoric acid (ATP) stress test has been used in patients who can not perform an enough exercise stress test. However, falling blood pressure during the stress test and increased liver uptake of the tracer are often found in patients undergoing the ATP test. To prevent these phenomena, a combination of ATP stress test and low workload exercise test (ATP & EX) is proposed. The usefulness of this newly developed stress test was elucidated from two viewpoints. Firstly, the changes of hemodynamic parameters were measured in 34 patients: 17 undergoing ATP alone and 17 undergoing ATP & EX. Systolic blood pressure fell from 150 +/- 20 mmHg to 126 +/- 16 mmHg (p < 0.05) for ATP alone. However, it changed from 141 +/- 19 mmHg to 149 +/- 31 mmHg (ns) for ATP & EX. There was a significant fall in systolic blood pressure (> 30 mmHg) in 58.8% for ATP alone and 5.9% for ATP & EX (p < 0.01). Secondly, the ROI count in the liver and heart on an anterior projection image were measured in 38 patients: 11 undergoing ATP alone, 13 undergoing ATP & EX, and 14 undergoing an ergometer exercise test (EX). The ROI count in the liver at 60 minutes after tracer injection were 29.0 +/- 10.7 count/pixel, 21.4 +/- 5.2 count/pixel, 18.3 +/- 4.5 count/pixel for ATP alone, ATP & EX and EX, respectively. The activities for ATP & EX and EX were lower than that for ATP alone (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). Thus, ATP & EX decreased the rates of the fall of systolic blood pressure and decreased liver uptake of the tracer compared with ATP alone. In conclusion, ATP & EX is a useful stress method for myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in patients who can not perform the enough exercise stress test.     

Retro-odontoid massive calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition--case report

An 86-year-old male presented with progressive myelopathy due to retro-odontoid massive deposits of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a non-enhanced isointense extradural mass on the T1-weighted image and heterogeneously intense mass on the T2-weighted image. Computed tomography showed typical punctate and linear calcifications within the mass. The mass was resected via a lateral approach resulting in marked improvement of the symptoms. Histological examination revealed birefringent rhomboid crystals consistent with CPPD. CPPD deposition should be considered in the differential diagnosis of retro-odontoid extradural mass because surgical therapy is beneficial even for elderly patients.     

Exposure to 1-bromopropane causes ovarian dysfunction in rats.

Although 1-bromopropane has been used in chemical and electronic industries as an alternative to ozone layer-depleting solvents, its toxicity on female reproductive organs has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of 1-bromopropane on female reproductive function in rats. Forty female Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups. Each group was exposed daily to 0, 200, 400, or 800 ppm of 1-bromopropane for eight h a day. After exposure for 7 weeks, all rats in the 800-ppm group became seriously ill and were sacrificed during the 8th week. The other dose groups were exposed for 12 weeks. In the 800-ppm group, but not in the other two exposed groups, body weight was significantly less than the control at each time point from 2 to 7 weeks after the beginning of exposure. Tests of vaginal smears showed a significant increase in the number of irregular estrous cycles with extended diestrus in the 400- and 800-ppm groups. Histopathological examination of the ovary showed a significant dose-dependent reduction of the number of normal antral follicles and a decrease in the number of normal growing follicles in the 400-ppm group. No significant change was found in plasma concentrations of LH or FSH in any group when compared with the control. Our results indicate that 1-bromopropane can induce a dose-dependent ovarian dysfunction in nonpregnant female rats associated with disruption in follicular growth process.     

Gender difference of clinical features in Japanese patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis]

Gender difference of alcohol intake and laboratory data was investigated in 165 Japanese patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Mean age of first drinking and habitual drinking were higher in female. Duration of drinking was shorter in female. Although cumulative alcohol intake was larger in male, mean daily alcohol intake did not differ in both gender. Moreover, daily alcohol intake adjusted to body weight was significantly larger in female. Body mass index, serum levels of total protein, albumin and cholinesterase were significantly decreased in female. Platelet counts on admission did not differ in both gender. However, it was significantly increased in female after one month abstinence. C reactive protein, ammonia and serum levels of total bilirubin were significantly higher in female as compared to male. In conclusion, female alcoholics seems to progress to liver cirrhosis earlier because of high daily alcohol intake adjusted to body weight, poor nutritional condition and inflammation caused by endotoxin.