Non-dopaminergic projections from the substantia nigra pars lateralis to the inferior colliculus in the rat.

The substantia nigra pars lateralis (SNI) of the rat was found, by the anterograde and retrograde tracing methods, to send projection fibers to the peripheral shell region surrounding the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (IC), bilaterally with a clear-cut ipsilateral dominance. SNI neurons sending their axons to the IC were distributed throughout the entire rostrocaudal extent of the SNI. None of these SNI neurons showed tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactivity.     

Studies on the synthesis of antiulcer agents. VI. Synthesis and antiulcer activity of dihydrobenzofuranone derivatives

The derivatives (2) of 3-(2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-5-benzofuranyl) acrylic acid (2b) were synthesized. The compounds (3a-g) in which bromo, methoxy, nitro, amino or acetamido group was introduced on the benzene ring of the derivatives (2) and the compounds (3h-k) in which acryloyl moiety was introduced on the 6- or 7-position of the benzofuranone skeleton also synthesized. Furthermore, propionic acid derivatives (4a-c), acetic acid derivatives (4d-g), formic acid derivatives (4h-k) and oxyacetic acid derivatives (5) were prepared by converting the acryloyl moiety of the derivatives (2) into propionyl, acetyl, formyl and oxyacetyl groups. These compounds were tested for antiulcer activities. Among these compounds, 1-[3-(2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-5-benzofuranyl)acryloyl]piperidine (2d) and 4-[3-(2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-5-benzofuranyl)acryloyl] morpholine (2g) were found to have stronger antiulcer activities.     

Influence of acetylcholine on neuronal activity of monkey amygdala during bar press feeding behavior

Single neuron activity in the monkey amygdala was investigated during cue signalled conditioned bar press feeding behavior and the effects of electrophoretically applied acetylcholine (ACh) and atropine were analyzed. ACh increased the firing rate of one third of the neurons tested; these excitatory responses were inhibited by the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine. No characteristic location of ACh-sensitive neurons was found, cells were diffusely distributed throughout the amygdala. Activity of ACh-sensitive neurons did not correlate with any particular event during the bar press feeding task. However, continuous application of ACh at low current intensity during the task significantly enhanced the task-related excitatory firing patterns, or markedly attenuated the inhibitory responses. Continuous application of atropine elicited or enhanced inhibitory response patterns. These results suggest that the cholinergic system of the monkey amygdala facilitates neuronal excitation but attenuates inhibition related to various phases of feeding behavior, such as to cue recognition, food aquisition and rewarding process.     

Epidemiological characteristics of acute pulmonary thromboembolism in Japan.

AIM: In Japan, acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APTE) is still rare, but the number of patients with APTE has been steadily increasing. It is important for early diagnosis and early management of APTE to recognize epidemiological characteristics of this condition. METHODS: We investigated the epidemiological characteristics of 252 patients with APTE who were admitted to our institutions between 1975 and 2001. APTE was more prevalent in women that in men. It was observed the most in the age group between 50s to 70s, especially in women. Many patients had prolonged immobilization, recent major operation, obesity, or cancer, as risk factors for venous thromboembolism. One hundred and thirty-eight patients developed APTE in hospital; 60 patients were in Department of Internal Medicine, 28 in General Surgery, 15 in Orthopedics, 15 in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and 20 in other services. RESULTS: Among 58 patients with malignancy, 43% had cancers in digestive organs, 21% in gynecological, and 17% in urological. Among 61 patients who were examined for the presence of thrombophilia, 13 patients had inherited thrombophilia (8 protein C deficiency, 4 protein S deficiency, and 1 antithrombin III deficiency) 11 had antiphospholipid antibodies which indicated thrombophilia. Five out of the above 61 patients (8%) had no obvious risk factors including thrombophilia. CONCLUSION: The findings in our patients were almost the same as those in Western patients, except for some points. These results might be useful to establish a preventive approach for APTE in Japan.     

Evaluation of myocardial disorders in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and left ventricular eccentric hypertrophy--by 201Tl myocardial SPECT]

201Tl myocardial SPECT was performed in cases of dilated cardiomyopathy and valvular heart disease with left ventricular eccentric hypertrophy, and the two groups were compared from the standpoint of the mechanism of onset of myocardial disorders. Significant coefficients of correlation were seen between the Tl score and LVDd (r = 0.792, r = 0.785) and Tl score and LVEF (r = -0.634, r = -0.555) in both dilated cardiomyopathy and valvular heart disease. In cases of valvular heart disease, significant correlation coefficients (r = -0.756, r = -0.720) between LVDd and r-WR (relative-washout rate), and Tl score and r-WR were observed, but no such correlation was seen in dilated cardiomyopathy. In valvular heart disease, a decrease in myocardial perfusion associated with enlargement of the left ventricle appeared, while in dilated cardiomyopathy, there was a marked decrease in LVEF in proportion to the thallium defect. Therefore, it was assumed that left ventricular wall disorders occur due to myocardial metabolic disorders and coronary microcirculation disorders.     

Solitary bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: CT criteria

The computed tomographic (CT) scans of 30 patients with solitary bronchioloalveolar carcinoma were reviewed. Common features at CT included the peripheral or subpleural location of a pulmonary mass (25 cases), pseudocavitation (18 cases), heterogeneous attenuation (17 cases), irregular margins forming a star pattern (22 cases), and pleural tags (21 cases). Using these CT criteria, four independent observers attempted to identify cases of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma from a larger sample of lung cancers and benign lesions by categorizing a series of test cases into four probability categories. Although the bronchioloalveolar carcinomas were correctly ranked in the two highest probability categories 75% of the time (in 45 of 60 cases), there was considerable overlap with other lung lesions, particularly with adenocarcinoma and large cell undifferentiated carcinoma. However, even though the typical features of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma are not invariable or highly specific, they are characteristic enough to suggest the diagnosis.     

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma]

Fifteen patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were treated by administration of autologous lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells given together with systemic administration of interleukin-2 (IL-2). Pulmonary metastases alone were found in 10 cases, pulmonary and mediastinal nodal metastases in 3, and pulmonary and bone metastases in 2. LAK cells, generated by incubation in 700 units/ml of IL-2 for 3-4 days, were intravenously administered once a week. In addition, beginning on the day of the first LAK cell infusion, 3.5 x 10(5) units of IL-2 were intravenously infused once or twice a day with occasional supplementation of 3.5 x 10(5) units of IL-2 on each day of LAK cell infusion. The total number of LAK cells and total amount of IL-2 administered per patient in this study ranged from 0.8 x 10(10) to 6.9 x 10(10) cells and from 10.2 x 10(6) to 74.9 x 10(6) units, respectively. As toxic effects caused by the infusion of LAK cells, headache, shaking chills, fever and leukocytosis were found in all cases. Side effects possibly induced by IL-2 infusion were tolerable fever, fluid retention (body weight gain of 2-3 kg) and eosinophilia. Out of 15 patients, a partial response was observed in 4 patients who had pulmonary metastases alone. One of the 4 patients with a partial response was clinically free of disease after undergoing a thoracotomy for resection of residual lesions, but a brain metastasis was detected 10 months after the thoracotomy. The remaining 3 patients are being closely followed up at present.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)