Effect of Plaunotol on Gastric Injury Induced by Ischaemia-Reperfusion in Rats

Plaunatol, an anti-ulcer drug, increases prostaglandin content in gastric tissue but its effect on radical-mediated gastric damage or activity against reactive oxygen species is unknown. We examined the effects of oral administration of plaunotol (Kelnac) on the acute gastric mucosal lesion and its progression to ulcer lesion induced by ischaemia-reperfusion in rats. Plaunotol (30 and 100 mg kg^?, 15 min before ischaemia) significantly reduced the total erosion area observed immediately after ischaemia-reperfusion. When plaunotol (30 and 100 mg kg^?, once a day) was administrated orally 60 min after reperfusion, it prevented the progression from erosion to ulcer. At 72 h after ischaemia-reperfusion, the total area of ulcers lesions was significantly reduced compared with that without plaunotol administration. Furthermore, treatment with plaunotol (100 mg kg^?) significantly increased prostaglandin E₂ content in gastric tissues of both acute gastric mucosal lesion and gastric ulcer lesion. In in-vitro experiments, plaunotol (1–3 mg mL^?) reduced the superoxide radicals generated by leucocytes, but not by xanthine oxidase. These results indicate that plaunotol has protective effects on both the onset of acute gastric mucosal injury and its progression to ulcer lesion induced by ischaemia-reperfusion. Both effects of plaunotol on increase in prostaglandin content in gastric tissues and inhibition of superoxide radical from leucocytes may play important roles on the protection against gastric mucosal injury.     

In-vitro Permeability to Salicylic Acid of Human,Rodent, and Shed Snake Skin

Abstract— In-vitro permeability to salicylic acid of human, rodent, and shed snake skin has been examined for the purpose of selecting model membranes for human skin corresponding to different anatomic sites, since a marked regional variation is suggested among the different sites. The greatest permeability to salicylic acid was observed in the scrotum, that of the sole was negligible. The cheek, neck, and inguinal skin seemed more permeable than the breast, back, thigh, lower leg, or foot skin. Shed snake and skin of hairless rat were found to show similar permeability to human breast and thigh skin. Wistar rat and nude mouse skin showed similar permeability to human cheek, neck, and inguinal skin.     

Molecular typing of Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale isolated in a university hospital in Japan based on the non‐transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal RNA gene

Detecting intraspecies polymorphisms in fungi causing dermatophytoses is important in elucidating routes of infection and determining whether Tinea recurrence is caused by exacerbation or re‐infection. In fungi, the non‐transcribed spacer region (NTS) of the ribosomal RNA gene shows the greatest accumulation of base sequence mutations. We therefore assessed NTS sequences in 64 clinical isolates of Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale, the second most common species of dermatophytes in Japan. These isolates were among the clinical isolates of dermatophytes in the Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa Medical University Hospital in 2006 and were obtained by morphological and molecular biological identification methods. DNA was extracted from each isolate, as well as from one isolate maintained in our department, to detect length polymorphisms at each of three variable loci, TmiS0, TmiS1 and TmiS2, of the NTS for subtyping. We observed seven patterns for TmiS0, six patterns for TmiS1 and three patterns for TmiS2. The combinations of these patterns enabled us to classify the 65 isolates into 15 types. The most prevalent, constituted 46% (30/65) of all isolates. Eleven types were new combinations, whereas the other four were previously described. These results suggest that this method may be used to determine the molecular epidemiology of T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale in Japan, because it generated results rapidly and in a sensitive manner.     

Interstitial laser coagulation for management of benign prostatic hyperplasia: Long-term follow-up

AIM: We evaluated the long-term results of transurethral interstitial laser coagulation in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with up to 9 years of follow up at the Kurashiki Central Hospital and determined the patient characteristics that predict a favorable outcome. METHODS: From December 1993 to May 1997, a total of 82 patients were enrolled in the present study. Subjective and objective voiding parameters were collected from medical records and a self-administered questionnaire was sent to the patients. Kaplan-Meier plots were constructed to assess the risk of retreatment. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 48.4 months (range, 3-108 months). A total of 59 patients (72%) did not need any additional treatment at 12 months and 30 patients (37%) did not require additional treatment during the entire follow-up period. A total of 29 patients (35%) were retreated during follow-up. Transurethral prostate resection (TURP) was performed in 18 patients (22%). The remaining 11 patients (13%) were offered additional pharmacotherapy. The minimum and median retreatment-free durations were 3 and 14 months, respectively. Seven patients died and 17 were lost to follow-up. Men aged 71 years or older had greater likelihood of requiring retreatment than those younger than 71 years (P = 0.0397). No significant differences were noted in the other baseline characteristics. Among postoperative parameters, a rate of decrease of the International Prostate Symptom Score of the patient of lower than 60% and a rate of decrease in patient quality of life of lower than 50% at 3 months were associated with greater likelihood of retreatment (P = 0.0083 and P = 0.0006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Interstitial laser coagulation is effective for the treatment of BPH. Good long-term results and an acceptably low retreatment rate render this modality an effective alternative to TURP, especially for younger patients. Short-term improvement of subjective symptoms was predictive of favorable long-term outcome.     

Development of pamphlets for cancer patients in disaster situations based on the study of cancer patients' care needs

Aim: The aim of this study is to develop a care package to help cancer patients improve their self‐care abilities and better prepare for a disaster, so that they can continue treatment and perform symptom management strategies in disaster situations. Methods: In this study, the “Care Package for Cancer Patients in Times of Disaster”, which comprises four pamphlets, was developed through discussions among the eight members of the study group. The care package was produced by making additions and modifications, based on the findings obtained in the above two steps, to the patient education booklets developed in the area of oncology. Results: Of the areas that cancer patients find difficult in times of disaster, the following six were extracted: difficulty in continuing treatment, the possibility of running out of pain medicines and how to store pain medicines, the possibility of not being able to go to a regular hospital, the shortage of stoma‐care appliances and other products, the possibility of exposure to infections at a shelter, and the necessity of providing care for cancer patients and their families before and after death. By incorporating these pieces of information, we developed the four pamphlets. These pamphlets are posted on the website for public use. Conclusion: The newly developed pamphlets incorporate information on how to cope with specific situations in times of disaster, based on the findings obtained from the “Survey on Actual Conditions of Treatment and Nursing Care to Cancer Patients in Disaster Situations”.     

Power Doppler imaging of hepatic tumours: Differential diagnosis between hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic adenocarcinoma

We evaluated the usefulness of power Doppler imaging in the differential diagnosis between hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic adenocarcinoma. Forty-seven patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and 18 patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma were evaluated using power Doppler imaging. The colour signals of hepatic tumours were graded as follows: 1, colour signals only in the marginal area; 2, small dot or dotted line colour signals within the tumours; 3, continuous solid line colour signals within the tumours. The grade 3 colour signals were classified in the following three patterns; winding line pattern, stretched line pattern and mixed pattern. The colour signals of hepatocellular carcinoma were grade 1 in seven patients, grade 2 in 11 and grade 3 in 29. The colour signals of metastatic adenocarcinoma were grade 1 in three patients and grade 3 in 15. Of the 29 hepatocellular carcinoma patients with a grade 3 signal, 26 patients had winding line patterns and three had mixed patterns. Of the 15 metastatic adenocarcinoma patients with a grade 3 signal, 12 patients had stretched line patterns and three had mixed patterns. In conclusion, power Doppler imaging is useful in the differential diagnosis between hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic adenocarcinoma to evaluate the colour signal pattern within the tumour.     

Molecular evaluation of the SRY gene for gonads of patients with mixed gonadal dysgenesis

AIM: To determine whether the SRY gene is present in the gonads of patients with mixed gonadal dysgenesis (MGD). METHODS: Molecular analysis was performed in three patients with MGD. Polymerase chain reactions were used to test for the presence of the SRY gene in the peripheral lymphocytes, testes and streak gonads. RESULTS: Chromosome analysis revealed 45,XO/46,XY in two patients, and 46,XY in the third patient. In the peripheral lymphocytes and testicular tissue, the SRY sequences were positive in all cases. However, the SRY sequence was detected in the streak gonad in only two of the three patients. CONCLUSIONS: It is interesting that we identified both SRY-positive and SRY-negative streak gonads. Although the SRY gene has a very important role in testicular differentiation, genes other than the SRY gene might also influence the development of the indifferent gonad in MGD.