Assessment of the relative hazard involved with airborne irritants with additional hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic properties in mice

This paper deals with the conversion of the hepatotoxicity of 1,2-dichlorobenzene (DCB), the nephrotoxicity of hexachloro-1,3-butadiene (HCBD) and the respiratory effects of these two toxicants into quantal data. It aims to provide some useful information on the best strategy used for safety evaluation. A reflex bradypnea indicative of irritation of the nasal cavities of mice occurred during a 15-min oronasal exposure to each chemical. A reduction in the development of staining for liver glucose-6-phosphatase (G6-phosphatase) and an increase in the number of damaged tubules in cryostat kidney sections stained for alkaline phosphatase were the measure of toxicity in mice subjected to a whole-body 4-h exposure to DCB and HCBD vapours, respectively. The immediate irritant responses, as well as the delayed liver and kidney responses, were measured at the peak of the chemical's action. These maximum responses were then used to establish the relationships of exposure level effects and also the median active levels of exposure (MALs). The DCB and HCBD MALs responsible for a 50% decrease in the respiratory rate of mice (RD50) were 181 and 211 ppm, respectively. The MAL required for eliciting a 50% decrease in G6-phosphatase staining intensity in DCB-exposed mice was 598 ppm and that associated with 50% of damaged tubules in HCBD-exposed mice was 7.2 ppm. On the basis of these quantitative data, potency ratios indicated that irritation and kidney injury are the primary manifestations of toxicity associated with short-term exposure to DCB and HCBD, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Value of rest-stress myocardial positron tomography using nitrogen-13 ammonia for the preoperative prediction of reversible asynergy

To determine the predictive value of stress [13N]ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) for reversible ischemia, 31 patients with coronary artery disease underwent rest-stress [13N]ammonia PET before and after coronary artery bypass surgery. The circumferential profile analysis was applied to determine the presence of transient defect (TD) and persistent defect (PD) preoperatively, and the fate of perfusion abnormality and asynergy after the surgery was assessed. Preoperative PET demonstrated 100 segments with perfusion abnormalities, including 69 TD and 31 PD. Fifty-six of the 69 TD (81%) improved in regional perfusion, while only four of 31 PD (13%) improved in perfusion postoperatively (p less than 0.001). Of 75 segments showing regional asynergy on contrast or radionuclide ventriculography preoperatively, 34 of 48 segments with TD (71%) improved in asynergy, while only five of 27 segments with PD (19%) improved in asynergy postoperatively (p less than 0.001). Stress-delayed 201TI tomography was performed in 22 of them. The predictive values for improvement in perfusion (77%) and asynergy (65%) were similar as those by [13N]ammonia PET (81% and 71%, respectively). However, the predictive values for no improvement in perfusion and asynergy by 201TI tended to be low (66% and 58%, respectively), as compared to those in 13N ammonia PET (87%; p less than 0.05 and 81%; p = 0.09, respectively). We conclude that an accurate prediction of reversible ischemia and asynergy can be achieved with rest-stress [13N]ammonia PET. Particularly, it can identify irreversible areas more accurately than the commonly performed stress-delayed 201TI imaging.     

Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in first-voided urine sediments from male urethritis patients by polymerase chain reaction]

Neisseria gonorrhoeae was detected from first-voided urine sediments of male patients with urethritis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Urine and urinary sediment were treated with proteinase K, and DNA was further purified by phenol extraction. Two oligonucleotides based on sequences within a ribosomal RNA gene from N. gonorrhoeae were used as primers for the PCR. A DNA fragment of 206 bp specific for N. gonorrhoeae was amplified by PCR and detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. In 19 specimens of urine sediments collected from 21 patients in whom N. gonorrhoeae was isolated from urethral swab by culture, 206 bp DNA fragment was amplified by PCR. In all specimens of urine sediments from 24 patients in whom cultures for N. gonorrhoeae were negative, no DNA was amplified by the PCR. The overall coincidence rate between the PCR for detecting N. gonorrhoeae in first-voided urine sediments and culture in urethral swab was 95.6% (43/45). PCR procedure for detection of pathogens from first-voided urine sediments would be noninvasive and would be applied for the diagnosis of gonococcal urethritis and chlamydial urethritis.     

Changes in auriculoventricular conduction due to the effect of ethanol]

Transcoronary ablation of atrioventricular conduction by dehydrated alcohol was attempted in one patient with refractory ectopic atrial tachycardia. Ethanol (1.5 ml) was delivered after selective catheterization of the atrioventricular nodal artery in a patient in whom the artery could be identified by cineangiography. The mean creatine kinase (MB fraction) at four hour to six hour after ablation was 40 U. No electrocardiographic QRS changes was seen. The procedure was successful. The patient is asymptomatic 3 months after procedure. Transcoronary alcohol ablation of atrioventricular conduction should be considered in patients in whom electrical techniques have been unsuccessful.     

Prevention of mouse liver metastases by perioperative immunostimulation using OK-432]

Two surgical procedures were required to make experimental model of liver metastasis (SC42-DS). In this paper, the protective effects of OK432 against liver metastasis were examined experimentally, as a immunotherapeutic agent under perioperative condition. In 5 combinations of administration, OK432 showed some different effects on liver metastasis, however, in general, simultaneous intrasplenic injection of OK432 reduced liver metastasis. From this result, the efficacy of intraoperative OK432 via portal vein was speculated.     

Placental-site trophoblastic tumor of the uterus--a case report

A case of placental-site trophoblastic tumor arising in the uterus is reported. The patient, a 34-year-old female, complained of irregular menstruation. Under the diagnosis of a tumor in the uterus or the ovary, a simple total hysterectomy and right adnexectomy were performed. Histologically, the tumor cells, which were large, polygonal or rounded in shape, had infiltrated into the myometrium in clusters or singly. Immunohistochemically, most of the tumor cells were positive to hPL. Further, hCG also was present in some tumor cells, though only weakly. Because of these findings, this case was diagnosed as a placental-site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT).