Morphology and distribution of the motor neurons of the accessory nerve (nXI) in the Japanese toad: a cobaltic lysine study

Motoneurons supplying the accessory nerve (nXI) of the Japanese toad were retrogradely labelled by applying the cobaltic lysine to the cut end of the nerve. They had morphological characteristics and a distribution pattern similar to those of the rostal spinal motoneurons rather that the branchial motoneurons. We propose that the anuran nXI is equivalent to the so-called spinal portion of the nXI of other vertebrates, and both should be regarded as part of the rostal spinal nerves rather than the nerve accessory to the vagus nerve.     

Layer-specific dilation of penetrating arteries induced by stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert in the mouse frontal cortex

To clarify mechanisms through which activation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) increases cerebral cortical blood flow, we examined whether cortical parenchymal arteries dilate during NBM stimulation in anesthetized mice. We used two-photon microscopy to measure the diameter of single penetrating arteries at different depths (∼800 μm, layers I to V) of the frontal cortex, and examined changes in the diameter during focal electrical stimulation of the NBM (0.5 ms at 30 to 50 μA and 50 Hz) and hypercapnia (3% CO₂ inhalation). Stimulation of the NBM caused diameter of penetrating arteries to increase by 9% to 13% of the prestimulus diameter throughout the different layers of the cortex, except at the cortical surface and upper part of layer V, where the diameter of penetrating arteries increased only slightly during NBM stimulation. Hypercapnia caused obvious dilation of the penetrating arteries in all cortical layers, including the surface arteries. The diameters began to increase within 1 second after the onset of NBM stimulation in the upper cortical layers, and later in lower layers. Our results indicate that activation of the NBM dilates cortical penetrating arteries in a layer-specific manner in magnitude and latency, presumably related to the density of cholinergic nerve terminals from the NBM.     

Cold tuberculous abscess identified by FDG PET

We report FDG PET of two cases of cold abscess due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Case 1 had colon cancer; FDG PET showed high FDG uptake in the colon lesion and low uptake in the inguinal lesion. The latter was a tuberculous cold abscess confirmed by CT/MRI and biopsy. Case 2 received radiotherapy for lung cancer and presented with suspected vertebral metastasis. Further studies revealed tuberculosis of the vertebra and a tuberculous cold abscess in the iliopsoas muscle. FDG PET showed moderate uptake in the third lumbar spine and low uptake in the abscess center of iliopsoas lesion. Both tuberculous cold abscesses showed moderate FDG uptake in the capsule and low uptake in the center. These features are unique compared with non-tuberculous abscess and typical tuberculosis lesions, which are characterized by high FDG uptake. Pathologically, tuberculous cold abscess is not accompanied by active inflammatory reaction. Our findings suggested that the FDG uptake by tuberculous lesion varies according to the grade of inflammatory activity. The new diagnostic features of tuberculous cold abscess may be useful in the evaluation of such lesions by FDG PET.     

Left Ventricular Abnormality and Covert Atrial Fibrillation in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source

Aims: The relationship between left ventricular (LV) function and AF detection in embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) patients with insertable cardiac monitors (ICMs) remains unclear. We investigated the association between LV function and AF detection in patients with ESUS after ICMs implantation. Methods: We enrolled patients with ESUS who underwent ICMs implantation from September 2016 to September 2020 using a single-center, prospective registry. LV systolic and diastolic functions were assessed on precordial echocardiography by LV fractional shortening (LVFS) and average E/e’, respectively. Associations between characteristics of LV function and detection of AF by ICMs were analyzed. Results: Participants comprised 101 patients (median age, 74 years; male, 62%). During a median follow-up period of 442 days (interquartile range (IQR), 202–770 days), AF was detected in 24 patients (24%). Median duration from ICMs implantation to AF detection was 71 days (IQR, 13–150 days). When LVFS and E/e’ were dichotomized by cutoff value, each of low LVFS (＜35.5%; adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 4.77; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.77–12.9) and high E/e’ (≥ 8.65; adjusted HR, 4.56; 95%CI, 1.17–17.7) were independently associated with AF detection after adjusting for age and sex. When patients were divided into four groups according to dichotomized LVFS and E/e’, the combination of low LVFS and high E/e’ was independently associated with AF. Conclusions: In patients with ESUS after ICMs implantation, the LV characteristics of low LVFS and high E/e’ were associated with AF detection.     

A novel compound RS-0466 reverses beta-amyloid-induced cytotoxicity through the Akt signaling pathway in vitro

In order to determine whether 5-[bis(carboxymethyl) amino]-2-carboxy4-cyano-3-thiopheneacetic acid distrontium salt (S12911-2) inhibits bone resorption by acting on the differentiation and/or function of osteoclasts, its effects were assessed on the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3)-induced expression of carbonic anhydrase II and vitronectin receptor in chicken bone marrow cells, and on the resorbing activity of authentic rat osteoclasts cultured on bone slices. S12911-2 dose-dependently inhibited, after a 6-day exposure, the expression of carbonic anhydrase II and vitronectin receptor in stimulated osteoclasts (46% and 40%, respectively, at 10(-3) M Sr(2+), P<0.05). A pre-incubation of bone slices with S12911-2 induced a dose-dependent inhibition of bone resorbing activity from 32% at 10(-4) M Sr(2+) to 66% at 10(-3) M Sr(2+) (P<0.05 in each case). A continuous incubation (10(-3) M Sr(2+)) induced a greater inhibition of bone resorbing activity (73%, P<0.05). The inhibition of bone resorption obtained specifically with S12911-2 is related to an inhibition of the differentiation and resorbing activity of the osteoclasts.     

Dependence of the thymidylate synthase inhibition rate on the interval after the last administration of tegafur in sigmoid colon cancer patients

The thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibition rate was measured after tegafur (FT) administration (1.5 g/day, at least 10 days) in 7 sigmoid colon cancer patients. The TS inhibition rate decreased as the interval between the time of the last administration and the time of the tumor resection increased longer. This study provides basic data for considering methods of drug administration and assessment of modification, for example, by leucovorin. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Comparative Case-referent Study of Risk Factors among Hormone-related Female Cancers in Japan

To assess the impact of reproductive and anthropometric factors as a risk indicator for female cancers in hormone-related organs, i.e., the breast, endometrium and ovary, we conducted a comparative case-referent study using data from the Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC), Japan. The case group consisted of 1,465, 133 and 99 women who had first been diagnosed as having breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer, respectively. The referents were 25,488 female first-visit outpatients who had not previously been diagnosed with any type of cancer. The odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated using an unconditional logistic regression model. An inverse association with experience of delivery and a positive association with body mass index (BMI) and with change of BMI after 20 years of age, were observed consistently for all three cancer sites. We observed similar risk and protective factors for breast and endometrial cancer, but the effect of reproduction and overweight condition (BMI≥25) were more prominent in endometrial cancer. Although the present study failed to find site-specific risk factors for ovarian cancer, the results provided evidence that being overweight and/or weight gain in adult life is a common risk factor for all three cancer sites. The results obtained from this study suggested that avoidance of weight gain may reduce the risk of female hormone-related cancers.     

Involvement of α2-Adrenoceptors in mechanism of intragastric nicotine protection against ethanol injury in rat stomach

To elucidate the role of - and -adrenoceptors in the mechanism of intragastric nicotine protection against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury, the following studies were performed. At 0.5-hr prior to the injury study, rats were pretreated with: subcutaneous control, prazosin (0.5 mg/kg) or yohimbine (5 mg/kg) to block ₁- or ₂-adrenoceptors; or intraperitoneal control, metoprolol (2 mg/kg) or butoxamine (4 mg/kg) to block ₁- or ₂-adrenoceptors, respectively. At 1-hr intervals, rats received intragastric vehicle or nicotine (4 mg/kg) and 40% ethanol (10 ml/kg). Total lengths of the linear gastric corpus mucosal lesions were measured by an unbiased observer using a caliper. In a separate study, 0.5-hr after subcutaneous control or yohimbine (5 mg/kg), rats were treated with intragastric vehicle or nicotine (4 mg/kg). One hour later, gastric mucus volume, gastric juice volume and pH, and titratable acid in the gastric juice were measured. In the rat stomach, the intragastric nicotine protection against 40% ethanol-induced mucosal injury was not blocked by selective ₁-(prazosin), ₁-(metoprolol), or ₂-(butoxamine) adrenoceptor antagonists. The protection was significantly reduced although not completely abolished by selective ₂-(yohimbine) adrenoceptor antagonist. Yohimbine also significantly reduced basal and nicotine-stimulated increase in gastric mucus volume. These data suggest that ₂-adrenoceptors are involved in the protective effect of intragastric nicotine against 40% ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury possibly by a mucus-dependent mechanism.Supported by Veternas Administration Medical Research Funds, and in part by research grants (0162-01, 02, and 291-01) from the Smokeless Tobacco Research Council, Inc., and by funds (1RT 80) provided by the Cigarette and Tobacco Surtax Fund of the State of California through the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program of the University of California to F.W.L. Dr. Endoh is a recipient of the University of California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program Research Fellowship Award (FT 37).