Focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver: arterial angio-CT and microangiography.

To differentiate focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) from other hepatic tumors, especially hepatocellular carcinoma, we evaluated the hemodynamics of histologically proved FNH in three patients, two by arterial angio-CT and one by microangiography of the resected specimen. These studies demonstrated the centrifugal blood supply of FNH (early filling of central tumor vessels radiating to periphery, and lobulated tumor stains with central low density area in the late phase), which could not be demonstrated by dynamic CT or hepatic angiography. Arterial angio-CT is useful as a further study, when differential diagnosis of FNH is uncertain by other imaging techniques.     

Reconstruction of the distal foot dorsum with a distally based extensor digitorum brevis muscle flap.

We have successfully applied a reverse flow island flap of extensor digitorum brevis muscle for coverage of tissue defects in the distal portion of the foot dorsum in 2 patients. This flap covered the metatarsophalangeal area well with cadaver limb dissection and seems useful to cover the defect in the distal foot dorsum.     

A case of orbital apex syndrome caused by localized invasive aspergillosis successfully treated with voriconazole]

A 71-year-old man with left periorbital pain and diplopia was hospitalized for evaluation and treatment. He had a past history of untreated diabetes mellitus. Shortly after admission, the patient experienced rapid onset of visual loss in the left eye. MRI and CT showed a lesion expanding from the left orbital apex to the left pterygopalatine fossa. Invasive aspergillosis was diagnosed by open biopsy of intrasinus mucosa via the left maxillary sinus. The patient was treated with voriconazole, an antifungal agent, and marked improvements in left periorbital pain and eye movement were subsequently obtained, although visual acuity was not recovered. This is the first report documenting the clinical utility of voriconazole for sino-orbital invasive aspergillosis.     

Modification of the Na,K-pump of glial cells within cobalt-induced epileptogenic cortex of rat

The characteristics of a glial Na⁺,K⁺-pump dependent on extracellular K⁺ within epileptogenic cortex were studied electrophysiologically, biochemically and histochemically in vitro using slices from cobalt-induced epileptogenic cortex of rat. When the extracellular K⁺ concentration ([K⁺]_o) was varied between 4 and 40 mM, the mean slope of membrane potential plotted against [K⁺]_o was about 57 mV in glia from the normal cortex (tissue A) and about 44 mV in glia from the epileptogenic cortex (tissue B); whereas no significant difference in the resting membrane potential of these tissues was observed. In glia from tissue B, a marked transient hyperpolarization above control level was caused by replacement of elevated [K⁺]_o with the normal medium. Ouabain abolished these phenomena observed in glia from tissue B, but had no effect on the membrane potential during normal [K⁺]_o. Reduction of extracellular Na⁺, Ca²⁺ and Cl⁻ did not significantly affect the membrane potential of glia from either tissue. In tissue A, the cells marked by intracellular injection of horseradish peroxidase after intracellular recording were protoplasmic astrocytes; in tissue B, fibrous astrocytes with abnormal processes predominated. K⁺-dependent stimulation of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity of the astrocyte-enriched fraction and its membrane preparation from tissue B was much larger than that from tissue A. A certain amount of the reaction product of K⁺-pNPPase activity was seen on glial plasma membrane within tissue B but not on that from tissue A. The above findings suggest that a glial Na⁺,K⁺-pump within actively firing epileptogenic cortex may be modified to increase in its activity.     

Comparison of flow capacities of arterial and venous grafts for coronary artery bypass grafting: evaluation with exercise thallium-201 single-photon emission tomography

Stress thallium-201 tomography was performed to compare the flow capacities of arterial and saphenous vein grafts in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). One hundred and seven consecutive patients (95 male and 12 female; mean age 58±9.1 years) underwent exercise-redistribution ²⁰¹Tl myocardial single-photon emission tomography 4–5 weeks after CABG. When a reversible perfusion defect was present in the area covered by a patent bypass graft, the flow capacity of the graft was defined as insufficient. Of all 285 grafts, 211 were considered as complete bypass. Reversible perfusion defects were present in 29 (27%) of 108 myocardial areas supplied by patent arterial grafts but in only 5 (5%) of 103 myocardial areas supplied by patent saphenous vein grafts (P<0.0001). In the LAD area reversible defects were observed in 22 of 82 areas covered by arterial grafts, in contrast to only 1 of 29 areas covered by venous grafts (P<0.01); in the RCA area reversible defects were observed in 7 of 17 and 4 of 41 areas respectively (P<0.01). There was no difference between the native coronary artery stenosis bypassed by patent arterial and venous grafts (88%±12% vs 86%±14% respectively, P=0.27). In conclusion, flow capacities during peak myocardial demand were more frequently insufficient in arterial bypass grafts than in saphenous vein grafts. Received 23 May and in revised form 7 August 1997     

Cortical reflex myoclonus in adult onset Huntington's disease]

We report a case of cortical reflex myoclonus in adult onset Huntington's disease (HD). The patient is a 51-year-old woman. Chorea and myoclonus were observed on her face and extremities. Neurophysiological tests showed C reflex and abnormal waves preceding myoclonus by jerk-locked back averaging method but no giant somatosensory evoked potential. Gene analysis revealed the prolongation of CAG repeats (13/44) in IT15 gene. Oral administration of clonazepam was transiently effective for myoclonus. We should inscribe that the cortical reflex myoclonus may exceptionally manifest in HD.     

A 62-year-old woman with early-onset Parkinson's disease associated with the PINKi gene deletion]

We report the first case of early-onset Parkinson's disease (EOP) with the PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) gene deletion in 62 years old Japanese female. The symptoms were started with unstable gait at the age 38. Parkinsonian symptoms became apparent in 45 years old. L-Dopa was markedly effective on her parkinsonian symptoms. However, equinovarus foot induced by L-Dopa intake appeared three months prior to the admission. On admission, she presented with mild cognitive impairment, severe depression, marked retropulsion, resting tremor in the left upper limb and mild hyperreflexia in the four limbs. Rigidity was not present. Mutational analysis revealed homozygous deletion from exon 6 to 8 in the PINK1 gene. An ethnic diversity in PINK1 mutation is suggested.