Decremental Accessory Pathway Conduction After Ablation and Antidromic Atrioventricular Reciprocating Tachycardia 8 Years After Successful Radiofrequency Ablation

Introduction: This is a rare case of antidromic reciprocating tachycardia developing 8 years after successful catheter ablation.
Result: A 15-year-old girl had recurrence of palpitations 8 years after the ablation of manifest right posteroseptal accessory pathway. Atrial burst pacing revealed Wenckebach atrioventricular conduction with preexcitation. Wide QRS tachycardia with identical morphology to sinus rhythm associated with retrograde His potential recorded immediately after the V-wave was induced by isoproterenol infusion. Atrial premature stimulus applied at the identical timing of His potential advanced the subsequent ventricular beat and His potential.
Conclusion: Catheter ablation may produce decremental accessory pathway conduction and rarely cause antidromic atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia. This may be explained by a presence of "de novo" accessory pathway with decremental conduction properties that became manifest after the first ablation.     

Analysis of Met235 to Thr variant of the angiotensinogen gene in relation to the blood pressure and family history of essential hypertension in Japanese children

A recent study reported a significant relationship between a T⁷⁰⁴→C (Met²³⁵→Thr) variant in exon 2 of the angiotensinogen gene in adults and essential hypertension. In the present study, this variant was detected in 131 Japanese children using a polymerase chain reaction. The allele frequency of the variant was 0.76. The genotype frequency of the homozygote for the allele was 0.59, and children who were homozygous had higher systolic blood pressure than those with the other two genotypes. No relationship was found between children's polymorphism and a family history of essential hypertension. These findings suggest that this molecular variant of the angiotensinogen gene may play some role in the regulation of blood pressure in Japanese children.     

Prediction of transfusions in extremely low-birthweight infants in the erythropoietin era

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present paper was to detect the clinical factors most predictive of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in extremely low-birthweight (ELBW) infants in the recombinant human erythropoietin era. METHODS: Between 1995 and 2000, 66 ELBW infants were admitted to a level III neonatal intensive care unit. Fifty-four of 66 infants were eligible for enrollment in the present study. Infants were treated with erythropoietin 200 IU/kg per dose s.c. twice a week with 4-6 mg/kg per day iron supplement. RESULTS: The mean gestational age and birthweight were 26.5 +/- 2.1 weeks and 776 +/- 134 g, respectively. Ten of 54 ELBW infants (18.5%) died during the first 21 days. Eight of 10 dead infants (80.0%) and 27 of 44 surviving infants (61.4%) received one or more RBC transfusions. The overall requirement for RBC transfusions in the surviving infants was 3.0 +/- 3.2 per infant/hospital course (range: 0-9) . There were significant differences in gestational weeks, birthweight, initial hemoglobin value, 5 min Apgar score, phlebotomy loss, phlebotomy loss/birthweight, duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of oxygen supplement, and incidence of both intraventricular hemorrhage and chronic lung disease between the transfused and non-transfused group. The predictive variables, initial hemoglobin level (odds ratio [OR] 2.61; 1 g/dL), birthweight (OR 3.00; 100 g), and gestational week (OR 1.89; 1 week), were found to be most predictive for transfusion on logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: ELBW infants are still the population at greatest risk for repeated blood transfusions after introduction of erythropoietin treatment. If labor develops, it is often impossible to extend the pregnancy period, therefore efforts should be made to increase hemoglobin level at birth.     

Serum level and gene polymorphism of angiotensin I converting enzyme in Japanese children

The aim of the present study was to determine the distribution of the insertion/deletion polymorphism of angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) gene in Japanese children. In addition, the relationship between this polymorphism and serum ACE levels in the same population were analyzed. Insertion/deletion polymorphism located in intron 16 of the ACE gene was examined by polymerase chain reaction in Japanese children aged 10–15 years. Allele frequencies were 0.64 for the insertion allele and 0.36 for the deletion allele in 122 subjects. No association was found between genotypes in this polymorphism and the level of systolic or diastolic blood pressure. A significant relationship between this polymorphism and serum ACE activity was observed. These results suggest that interindividual variability of serum ACE level is strongly influenced by the ACE genotype as early as in childhood.     

Comprehensive treatment of advanced neuroblastoma involving autologous bone marrow transplant

Encouraging results are reported with high-dose chemotherapy and total body irradiation followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of advanced neuroblastoma. However, relapse remains a significant problem. We used high-dose chemotherapy, surgery, intraoperative radiation and an autologous bone marrow transplant treated in vitro to remove tumor cells followed by 13-cis-retinoic acid to treat 36 children with advanced neuroblastoma. This comprehensive treatment appears to improve the survival rate of patients with advanced neuroblastoma, including those with N-myc amplification and bony involvement. The disease-free survival rate was 66% (95% confidence interval, 49–84%) at 3 years. All patients who received 13-cis-retinoic acid developed cheilitis, but no bone marrow depression occurred in these patients. Five patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) post-transplant. This may have been related to the procedure used for total body irradiation. Patients who had their kidneys shielded during this procedure did not develop this syndrome. Patients who received local irradiation at the primary site showed no evidence of relapse in this region, indicating that such therapy may help to prevent a relapse. These data suggest a high rate of 3 year disease-free survival with this treatment strategy. The nonrandomized nature of the study and use of multiple modalities precludes analysis of the specific contribution of each.     

INGUINAL CYSTOCELES: A PREVIOUSLY OVERLOOKED ETIOLOGY OF PROSTATISM IN MEN WITHOUT BLADDER OUTLET OBSTRUCTION

Purpose

We determine whether inguinal cystoceles, a type of extraperitoneal herniation of the bladder, are responsible for symptoms consistent with prostatism in men without bladder outlet obstruction.

Materials and Methods

From January 1996 to February 1997 inguinal cystoceles were treated with surgical repair of the floor of the inguinal canal in 8 men with a relatively long history of symptoms consistent with prostatism. The diagnosis of inguinal cystoceles was based on the filling phase of video urodynamic studies done with the patient standing. The clinical outcome of surgery was assessed using the International Prostate Symptom Score and urodynamic findings.

Results

All inguinal cystoceles studied were physically occult but clearly detected as wide-mouthed, mild protrusions of the bladder wall in the inguinal region on cystograms obtained with the patient standing. Although clear cystoceles were present on radiography on the right side in 1 case, the left side in 2 and bilaterally in 5, apparent bilateral weakness in Hesselbach's triangle was noted in all at surgery. High detrusor opening pressure and a relatively long opening time were regarded as urodynamic parameters characteristics of this condition. These parameters and subjective symptoms dramatically improved after bilateral surgical repair of the floor of the inguinal canal.

Conclusions

Inguinal cystoceles negatively affect voiding dynamics by increasing opening pressure and opening time, indicating that they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of men with symptoms consistent with prostatism. Video urodynamics is mandatory to detect this condition, which to our knowledge has been previously overlooked on radiography and urodynamics.     

A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Developed on Polycystic Disease of the Liver with Cirrhosis

A case of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with polycysticdisease of the liver and posthepatitic cirrhosis in a 56-year-oldKorean woman was described. She was first admitted because ofepigastralgia, irradiated back pain and general fatigue. Onthe liver scan a relative cold area was demonstrated. The celiacangiography revealed multiple avascular areas indicating cysticlesions. The exploratory laparotomy confirmed the presence ofpolycystic disease of the liver with cirrhosis. Four years afterthe first admission, she underwent an appendectomy. At the timeof operation, the surgeon suspected the presence of hepatocellularcarcinoma, and she was admitted for the second time to our hospital.The minimal elevation of serum -fetoprotein was observed. Thedevelopment of hepatocellular carcinoma was confirmed by theceliac angio graphy, and a partial lobectomy of the liver wasperformed. Four months after the operation she died of hepaticfailure. Of the four reported cases of hepatocellular carcinoma associatedwith polycystic disease of the liver including this case, allhad liver cirrhosis, and serum HBs-Ag was positive in all ofthe three cases examined.     

麦角新碱激发试验诊断变异型心绞痛

随着心血管疾病介入诊断技术的不断发展与普及,选择性冠状动脉造影已经成为冠心病诊断的“金标准”。但发作性痉挛所引起的变异型心绞痛仍是常规冠脉造影的“盲点”。笔者采用静脉注射麦角新碱激发冠状动脉痉挛的方法诊断变异型心绞痛,获得满意效果,现报告如下。1　资料与方法1.1　一般临床资料　主诉为发作性胸痛,临床疑诊为变异型心绞痛的患者12例,其中男7例,女5例,年龄48～69岁,全部病例均未捕捉到发作时ＳＴ段抬高的心电图,平时心电图亦无明显ＳＴ段上抬或下移。激发试验前选择性冠脉造影示无明显冠状动脉固定狭窄者9例,冠状动脉狭窄25%者3例(左前降支2例,右侧冠状动脉1例)(附表)。1.2　方法　麦角新碱激