High inducibility of Epstein-Barr virus replication in B lymphocytes in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease]

PURPOSE: The role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation in the pathogenesis of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease was examined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using B lymphocytes obtained from 8 patients with VKH disease and 10 patients with other types of uveitis, immortarized lymphoblast lines were established and infected with EBV. The degree of EBV activation in each lymphoblast line, in the presence and absence of various stimuli, was assessed by measuring the expression of 3 different antigens involved in replication by immunofluorescent staining and western blot analysis. Quantification of EBV DNA in cell culture supernatants was done by polymerase chain reaction. RESULT: Cell lines established from VKH patients expressed more viral antigens that those established from patients with other types of uveitis. There were greater amounts of EBV DNA in the VKH cell lines. CONCLUSION: B lymphocytes from VKH patients may be more susceptible to EBV activation, and the reactivation of EBV may be involved in the pathogenesis of VKH.     

Effects of ethyl alcohol administration to rat dams during the gestation period on learning behavior and on levels of monoamines and metabolites in rat pup brain after birth

Pregnant rats were given 0%-, 5%-, 10%- and 20% ethyl alcohol in drinking water during the gestation period.We evaluated the brain function of pups born of alcohol-administered dams. Learning ability (Sidman avoidance behavior), the amounts of monoamines (noradrenalin, dopamine, serotonin) and metabolites (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid [DOPAC], homovanillic acid [HVA] and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid [5-HIAA])in whole brain were examined for neurobehavioral and neurochemical effects.There was no effect on Sidman avoidance behavior in 56-day-old offspring, but alterations of the amounts of monoamines and their metabolites were observed even in 66-day-old offspring as a result of the dams' exposure to ethanol during pregnancy.     

Local Control and Cosmetic Outcome after Sector Resection with or without Radiation Therapy for Early Breast Cancer

Breast conserving surgery and radiation therapy (RT) can achieve a more favorable cosmetic outcome than mastectomy in patients with early breast cancer. However, it is widely recognized that RT is an impediment to improving the cosmetic outcome. Between 1985 and 1993, 113 patients were enrolled in a prospective randomized study to examine whether or not RT could be avoided following sector resection in patients with Stage I and II (UICC) invasive breast cancer. There was no significant difference in the 8 year local recurrence free survival rate between the RT and non-RT groups (92.3% versus 89.8% respectively). The characteristics of suitable patients would be negative nodes and microscopically negative resection margins. In conclusion, sector resection without RT is a reasonable option for some patients with early breast cancer.     

Evaluation and selection of normal range calculation methods]

There are many methods for normal range calculation, and they give different values even with the same normal data sample. I proposed three parameters, accuracy, precision and robustness, for evaluating the calculation methods. A complicated calculation method, the distribution selection method, seems to be theoretically correct, but it shows unstable precision and inadequate robustness when the normal data contain a small amount of abnormal data. A method called "Clinical reference range program (CRRP)" is a robust method, and is applicable to the data which contains abnormal data. I also proposed a condition which defines the sample size required for the calculation using the precision parameter.     

Effects of synchronous pulsatile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in an endotoxin-induced shock model: an experimental study

A synchronous pulsatile venoarterial device for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was designed to accomplish more effective circulatory support for neonates. The effect of this device was studied using an endotoxin-induced shock model, compared with conventional nonpulsatile ECMO. Twenty puppies weighing 1.6 to 4.0 kg were given endotoxin (5 mg/kg) intravenously. Thirty minutes after the administration of endotoxin, 10 were placed on pulsatile ECMO, and the others were placed on nonpulsatile ECMO, and they were studied for an additional 180 min. Peak blood pressure, arterial pH, base excess, and renal blood flow were significantly higher in the pulsatile group than in the nonpulsatile group. Serum lactate and serum noradrenaline were significantly lower in the pulsatile group than in the nonpulsatile group. These results indicate that pulsatile ECMO may provide more effective cardiopulmonary support in the treatment of neonates with serious circulatory failure that has failed to be supported by nonpulsatile ECMO.     

Restoration of hearing with an auditory brainstem implant in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 2--case report

A 25-year-old male with neurofibromatosis type 2 had hearing restored with an auditory brainstem implant (ABI) after removal of an acoustic schwannoma. The ABI allows the patient to discern many different environment sounds and is a significant adjunct to lip-reading, enabling conversation with people who have clear pronunciation without the necessity for writing.     

Effect of a selective inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor on intraocular nitric oxide production in endotoxin-induced uveitis rabbits: in vivo intraocular microdialysis study

Inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) is believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU). In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a non-selective NOS inhibitor, and S,S'-1,4-phenylene-bis(1,2-ethanediyl)bis-isothiourea (PBITU), a potent and selective iNOS inhibitor, on intraocular NO production in EIU rabbits using an in vivo intraocular microdialysis technique. The flare level in the anterior chamber increased from 1h after the injection of 100 micro g/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and continued to increase for 24h. Aqueous humor protein concentrations were significantly increased at 24h after LPS-injection. These changes were significantly reduced by L-NAME (10mg/kg) and PBITU (1mg/kg), but not by D-NAME (10mg/kg). The increase in NO(2)(-) and NO(3)(-) levels in the dialysate induced by LPS was significantly inhibited by L-NAME (10mg/kg) and PBITU (1mg/kg), but not by D-NAME (10mg/kg). These results suggest that activation of iNOS may play a key role in the development of EIU, and selective inhibitors of iNOS may have therapeutic applications in the treatment of EIU.