A case of multiple cerebral aneurysms caused by cardiac myxoma

A case of neoplastic aneurysm caused by left atrial myxoma is reported. The patient was a 50-year-old woman who has been suffered from occasional vertigo and syncopal attack. She was admitted with a sudden loss of consciousness and cerebellar ataxia on December 1, 1983. Cerebral angiogram revealed multiple aneurysms in the periphery of both middle cerebral arteries and obstruction of the right superior cerebellar artery. Echocardiography displayed a cardiac myxoma in the left atrium. She suddenly died from recurrent cerebral embolism on January 7, 1984. The diagnosis was confirmed by the autopsy. The histopathological examination revealed that the wall of cerebral arteries were destroyed by the tumor cells of myxoma, and it caused cerebral aneurysms. We presented the detail of this case, and discussed about a mechanism and a treatment of neoplastic aneurysms.     

Study on pathogenesis of Enterococcus faecalis in urinary tract

Summary The rate of isolation of Enterococcus faecalis as the causative bacterium of complicated urinary tract infections has been increasing. However, the pathogenicity of this bacterium in the urinary tract has not been clarified. Thus, the authors investigated how E. faecalis is pathogenic to the urinary tract, using mice with experimental urinary tract infection. The investigation revealed that this bacterium when sufficiently numerous can be directly pathogenic. The bacterium can be pathogenic indirectly when present with other typical urinary bacteria such as E. coli.     

Long-term toxicity and carcinogenicity study of sodium o-phenylphenate in B6C3F1 mice

Sodium o-phenylphenate (OPP-Na) was given at dietary levels of O (control), 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% to groups of 50 male and 50 female mice for 96 wk, and all the animals were maintained without OPP-Na for a further 8 wk. Both sexes given 2% OPP-Na and females given 0.5% and 1% OPP-Na showed growth retardation. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity in OPP-Na treated females was significantly increased in a dose-related manner. There were no treatment-related effects on clinical signs, mortality, urinalyses, haematology or organ weights. The incidences of several non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions achieved statistical significance but none was considered to be related to treatment. There were increased incidences of haemangiosarcomas of the liver in males given 1% and of hepatocellular carcinomas in 1 and 2% males, and haemangiomas and leiomyomas of the uterus, present in the controls, were absent or decreased in all treated females. Therefore, this study did not demonstrate any clear carcinogenic effect of OPP-Na on mice at dietary levels of up to 2%.     

Autonomic innervation of the intestine from a baby with megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome: I. Immunohistochemical study

A typical case of megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) is reported. The patient, an infant girl, was fed only by total intravenous nutrition and is now 3 years old. The distribution of several gut peptides was examined in the resected small intestine using an immunohistochemical method. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and peptide histidine methionine (PHM)-containing nerve fibers were decreased; however, substance P- and leucine enkephalin (Leu-ENK)-containing fibers were increased. The imbalance between several kinds of gut peptides might be one the causes of aperistalsis in MMIHS. This is the first report about the gut peptides of MMIHS.     

Anticancer effect of UFT in intrahepatic recurrence with tumor embolus in the left portal vein after hepatectomy of hepatoma--a case report

A 65-year-old man was diagnosed as having hepatoma (HCC) in the area of S5 and S8. Anterior segmentectomy was performed on September, 1984. TAE (Sandwich therapy) via r. hepatic artery was performed for the intrahepatic recurrence one and half years after hepatectomy. However, the tumor embolus in the l. portal vein with intrahepatic recurrence occurred, and intraarterial infusion chemotherapy (IAC) using CDDP 150 mg was performed via proper hepatic artery. The decrement of AFP value was observed for a short time after IAC therapy. Therefore, UFT 300 mg daily, was administered. For two and half months after UFT administration, the elevation of AFP value continued from 665 ng/ml to 4150 ng/ml, and decreased rapidly below 20 ng/ml in the following 2 months. The tumor embolus in the l. portal vein was remarkably reduced on computed tomogram examination. This case suggests the usefulness of UFT for the intrahepatic recurrence with tumor embolus in the portal vein after hepatectomy for HCC.