Improved expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor in mice with cerebral infarct and transplanted bone marrow stromal cells: an autoradiographic and histologic analysis.

Recent studies have indicated that bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) have the potential to improve neurologic function when transplanted into animal models of central nervous system disorders. However, how the transplanted BMSC restore the lost neurologic function is not clear. In the present study, therefore, we aimed to elucidate whether BMSC express the neuron-specific gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor when transplanted into brain that has been subjected to cerebral infarction. METHODS: The BMSC were harvested from green fluorescent protein-transgenic mice and were cultured. The mice were subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. The BMSC or vehicle was transplanted into the ipsilateral striatum 7 d after the insult. Using autoradiography and fluorescence immunohistochemistry, we evaluated the binding of 125I-iomazenil and the expression of GABA receptor protein in and around the cerebral infarct 4 wk after transplantation. RESULTS: Binding of 125I-iomazenil was significantly higher in the periinfarct neocortex in the BMSC-transplanted animals than in the vehicle-transplanted animals. Likewise, the number of the GABAA receptor-positive cells was significantly higher in the periinfarct neocortex in the BMSC-transplanted animals than in the vehicle-transplanted animals. A certain subpopulation of the transplanted BMSC expressed a neuron-specific marker, microtubule-associated protein 2, and the marker protein specific for GABAA receptor in the periinfarct area. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that BMSC may contribute to neural tissue regeneration through migrating toward the periinfarct area and acquiring the neuron-specific receptor function.     

Pulmonary injury by an over-the-counter drug, Nospole G]

A 78-year-old woman was admitted with dyspnea. She had caught a cold and took an over-the-counter drug (Nospole G) for 2 weeks before admission. Chest radiography and CT scanning showed bilateral diffuse and interstitial shadows, and arterial blood gas analysis demonstrated severe hypoxemia. Withdrawal of Nospole and treatment with both corticosteroid and sivelestat sodium resulted in improvement of clinical findings and successful recovery from mechanical ventilation. A drug lymphocyte stimulation test for Nospole G was positive. Based on these findings, we determined that this patient had drug-induced pneumonitis caused by Nospole G. Finally, she died of sepsis caused by multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. In summary, we report here an elderly case of drug-induced pneumonitis successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation by early treatment with corticosteroid and sivelestat sodium, monitored by changes of markers for interstitial pneumonitis (KL-6, SP-A, SP-D).     

Remote Connection to the Kyushu University Medical Center LAN Using Digital and Analog Telephone Lines

SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) has recently become popular, as it makes working at home possible. Computers or Local Area Networks(LAN) connected to the office network from home are necessary for the implementation of this concept. Kyushu University has begun a service connecting home computers to the campus LAN for researchers, staff and students of the Faculty of Medicine. We have two different telephone connection methods. One connects the campus LAN and the home computer LAN using routers through the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). The other connects computers at home to the workstation in the university, using modems and the PPP (Point to Point Protocol) through a public telephone analog line. This paper outlines our university SOHO connection system and discusses the merits and demerits of using telephone line connections.     

Effects of submental stimulation for several consecutive nights in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.

BACKGROUND--It has previously been reported that short term submental stimulation can reduce the frequency of apnoea and improve sleep architecture in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. The effects of submental stimulation during consecutive nights on apnoea or on daytime sleepiness have not, however, been studied. METHODS--Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea were studied by polysomnography on a control night, for five consecutive nights of submental stimulation, and on three following nights (n = 8). A multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) (n = 8) and measurement of the upper airway resistance (n = 5) were performed during the day after the polysomnographic study, on the control night, and on the fifth stimulation night. In an additional five patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, matched for age, sex, and weight, the effects of two nights of stimulation were examined for comparison. Submental stimulation began when an apnoea lasted for five seconds and stopped with the resumption of breathing as detected by oronasal flow. RESULTS--The apnoea index, the number of times per hour that SaO2 dropped below 85% (SaO2 < 85%/hour), and the total apnoea duration expressed as a percentage of total sleep time during stimulation nights decreased to approximately 50% of the corresponding values on the control night. This improvement persisted for at least two nights after the five consecutive stimulation nights, but not after the two consecutive stimulation nights. Sleep architecture and MSLT following the stimulation nights improved but upper airway resistance did not change. CONCLUSIONS--Submental stimulation for five consecutive nights in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea improved the breathing disturbance, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness. The effect lasted for the following two nights, but did not completely abolish the sleep disordered breathing.     

Possible site of bronchodilation due to inhaled procaterol aerosol in asthmatic patients

Summary We studied the effective site of an inhaled aerosol of procaterol, a ₂-selective adrenergic bronchodilator, in 8 asthmatic patients whose basal lung functions are almost within the normal range in both slow vital capacity (VC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV_1.0), and are free from asthmatic attack. In patients who had received procaterol 30 min after inhalation of aerosol, there was no significant change in VC, although FEV_1.0, maximal expiratory flow at 50% VC , maximal expiratory flow at 25% VC and maximal expiratory flow at 30% VC of partial maximal expiratory flow volume curve improved significantly. On the other hand, in those who had received placebo, none of the parameters changed. Furthermore, Rl decreased and C_0.5 increased significantly during the first 5 min after inhalation of procaterol aerosol. After an interval of 5 min, Rl did not change any further, while C_0.5 continued to improve until 30 min after inhalation of procaterol. These results suggest that procaterol may first dilate the large airway and then may gradually dilate the small airway in bronchial asthma.     

Relationship between immediate hypersensitive reactions by buckwheat ingestion and specific IgE for rice in subject with positive IgE-RAST for buckwheat]

IgE-mediated mechanisms are important in immediate hypersensitive reactions (IHR) to buckwheat. However, a part of subjects with high IgE for buckwheat show no IHR to buckwheat ingestion. Inspite of cross-allergenicity between buckwheat and rice, rice ingestion rarely induces IHR even in subjects with high IgE for rice unlike buckwheat-induced IHR. We speculated that there were some relationships between the presence of IHR to buckwheat and recognition of cross-allergenic determinants on buckwheat components with rice components. We examined IgE-RAST for rice in 58 subjects with positive IgE-RAST for buckwheat. IgE-RAST for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), egg white and cow's milk as unrelated antigens with rice were also assessed for a comparison. Subjects (n = 33) without IHR to buckwheat showed higher IgE-RAST values for rice than those (n = 25) with IHR, whereas there were no differences in IgE-RAST values for Dp, egg white and cow's milk between two groups with and without IHR. IgE-RAST values for buckwheat showed significant close correlations to those for rice in subjects without IHR to buckwheat but not in those with IHR. There were no significant correlations between IgE-RAST values for buckwheat and for Dp, egg white or cow's milk in both groups with and without IHR. These results suggested that the IgE from subjects without IHR to buckwheat recognized cross-allergenic determinants with rice on the buckwheat components.     

Propagation of action potentials from the soma to individual dendrite of cultured rat amacrine cells is regulated by local GABA input

Retinal amacrine cells are interneurons that make lateral and vertical connections in the inner plexiform layer of the retina. Amacrine cells do not possess a long axon, and this morphological feature is the origin of their naming. Their dendrites function as both presynaptic and postsynaptic sites. Half of all amacrine cells are GABAergic inhibitory neurons that mediate lateral inhibition, and their light-evoked response consists of graded voltage changes and regenerative action potentials. There is evidence that the amount of neurotransmitter release from presynaptic sites is increased by spike propagation into the dendrite. Thus understanding of how action potentials propagate in dendrites is important to elucidating the extent and strength of lateral inhibition. In the present study, we used the dual whole cell patch-clamp technique on the soma and the dendrite of cultured rat amacrine cells and directly demonstrated that the action potentials propagate into the dendrites. The action potential in the dendrite was TTX sensitive and was affected by the local membrane potential of the dendrite. Propagation of the action potential was suppressed by local application of GABA to the dendrite. Dual dendrite whole cell patch-clamp recordings showed that GABA suppresses the propagation of action potentials in one dendrite of an amacrine cell, while the action potentials propagate in the other dendrites. It is likely that the action potentials in the dendrites are susceptible to various external factors resulting in the nonuniform propagation of the action potential from the soma of an amacrine cell.