Electron microscopic study of monkey retina after photodynamic treatment

The purpose of this histological study was to determine the effects of photodynamic treatment, using a hematoporphyrin derivative and argon laser, on normal retinas of monkeys. Ten cynomolgus monkeys were treated with a hematoporphyrin derivative, given intravenously at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg. Forty minutes or 1 or 3 days after the injection, argon laser photoradiation was given over a 2.0-mm-diameter with a 10-min exposure and at an intensity of 40, 100, or 200 mW. The eyes were enucleated 1, 3, 4, 15, 18, 21, 35, or 38 days after the photoradiation and tissue samples were observed under a transmission electron microscope. The most fragile regions in the retina were the retinal nerve fibers, the outer segments of the visual cells, and the retinal pigment epithelium. Vascular endothelial cells were also fragile. The retinal capillary was easily obstructed, and the choriocapillaris was also occluded in an animal with severe retinal damage. The Mueller cells had the highest tolerance to the photodynamic treatment. Thus, exposing the normal part of the retina to light during photodynamic therapy should be avoided.     

Prevention of Acute Lung Allograft Rejection in Rat by CTLA4Ig

CTLA4 immunoglobulin (CTLA4Ig), which binds with a high affinity to B7-1 and B7-2, interrupts T-cell activation by inhibiting costimulatory signal. CTLA4Ig has been used in hopes of achieving antigen-specific tolerance induction in several solid organ transplants. In lung allograft rejection, however, its use has been controversial in terms of its effect on prevention of rejection. In the present study, the effect of murine CTLA4Ig on rat-lung allograft rejection was investigated. Rat left-lung transplantation was performed in an RT1 incompatible donor (Brown Norway; BN)-recipient (F344) combination. All allografts (n = 12) without any treatment were rejected within 7 days after transplantation. A single injection of murine form CTLA41g at a dose of 100 microg intraperitoneally (ip) or intravenously (iv) on day 1 post-transplantation achieved long-term graft survival (>90days) in 2/5 (40%) and 3/8 (38%), respectively. Moreover, 6/7 (86%) allografts in rats that received iv injection of 500 microg CTLA4Ig survived more than 90days. Allograft survival in the CTLA4Ig 500 microg iv recipient group was significantly longer than that in the no-treatment control or control immunoglobulin group (p <0.01). Four out of seven recipients bearing functional allografts for more than 90 days with the CTLA4Ig treatment accepted donor-specific skin grafts, whereas all third-party skin grafts (n=3) were rejected. Prevention of rat-lung allograft rejection could be achieved by intravenous administration of CTLA4Ig, resulting in long-term allograft survival with acceptance of donor-specific skin grafts.     

Virtual endoscopic images by 3D FASE cisternography for neurovascular compression.

Three-dimensional fast asymmetric spin echo (3D FASE) cisternography provides high spatial resolution and excellent contrast as a water image acquisition technique. It is also useful for the evaluation of various anatomical regions. This study investigated the usefulness and limitations of virtual endoscopic images obtained by 3D FASE MR cisternography in the preoperative evaluation of patients with neurovascular compression. The study included 12 patients with neurovascular compression: 10 with hemifacial spasm and two with trigeminal neuralgia. The diagnosis was surgically confirmed in all patients. The virtual endoscopic images obtained were judged to be of acceptable quality for interpretation in all cases. The areas of compression identified in preoperative diagnosis with virtual endoscopic images showed good agreement with those observed from surgery, except in one case in which the common trunk of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA-PICA) bifurcated near the root exit zone of the facial nerve. The veins are displayed in some cases but not in others. The main advantage of generating virtual endoscopic images is that such images can be used for surgical simulation, allowing the neurosurgeon to perform surgical procedures with greater confidence.     

二氧化硅对大鼠血浆中微量元素含量的影响

给大鼠经气管分别注入４、１６、６４ｍｇ石英粉尘生理盐水混悬液。在染尘后第７，１５和３０天解剖动物，测定血浆中Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ，Ｍｎ、Ｍｏ、Ｓｉ、Ｒｂ和Ｓｒ等７种微量元素的含量。实验结果表明，随着染尘剂量的增加，血浆中铜的含量明显增高，呈正相关，相关系数为０．９９９。而血浆锌的含量随着染尘剂量的增加而明显的降低，呈负相关，相关系数为－０．９９８。血浆中Ｍｏ、Ｍｎ、Ｓｉ、Ｒｂ和Ｓｒ含量与对照组比无明显差异。     

Overestimation of myocardial viability due to an increase in thallium uptake by the lung

Thallium lung uptake (TL-uptake) was usually treated as background for myocardial image and increase of TL-uptake in exercise test was considered as marker of depressed cardiac function. It was reported that marked increase of TL-uptake in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) corresponded to acute severe congestive heart failure. Here effect of TL-uptake on myocardial planar images was studied in 61 patients with AMI. In acute phase anterior, LAO 30 degrees and LAO 60 degrees myocardial images were collected. In 29 cases of 61 cases 3 to 6 hours delayed images could be collected. Each myocardial images was divided to 3 division and both images were compared. In 5 of 6 patients with marked increase of TL-uptake new defects were noted in anterior division of delayed images and in one case also in lateral division. In 7 patients of 12 patients with moderate increase of TL-uptake new defects were also noted in delayed images, i.e. 3 in anterior, 3 in inferior and one in apical division. It was concluded that over estimation of myocardial viability due to marked increase of TL-uptake was often noted in patients with AMI accompanying severe congestion. It became clear that delayed images were necessary to correctly estimate myocardial viability in such case.     

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.     

Successful treatment of blunt trauma involving complete laceration of the pancreas and duodenum in a 7-year-old child: Report of a case

The acute onset of peritoneal signs and shock in a 7year-old boy who had been hit in the epigastrium by a log-seesaw mandated surgical treatment. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) demonstrated complete laceration of the pancreas as well as duodenal injury, and a duodenoduodenostomy with distal pancreaticogastrostomy was subsequently performed. Temporary external drainage of the stomach and distal pancreas led to an uneventful recovery in the early postoperative period. Although the patient's postoperative development was appropriate for his age, the orifice of the distal pancreas spontaneously closed 2.5 years following surgery. We present this report to stress the fact that every effort should be made to preserve the pancreas following abdominal injury in children.     

Genetic alteration in carcinoid tumors of the lung.

Surgically resected specimens of 13 carcinoid tumors of the lung including nine typical carcinoids and four atypical carcinoids, and eight salivary gland type carcinomas (six mucoepidermoid carcinomas and two adenoid cystic carcinomas) were analyzed regarding p53 expression, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in chromosome 3p, 9p, and K-ras mutation. The overexpression of p53 was identified in four atypical carcinoid tumors, one mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and one adenoid cystic carcinoma, however, none of typical carcinoids showed p53 immunoreactivity. LOH in 3p14 was demonstrated in three of seven informative cases in all tumors. LOH in 9p was demonstrated in two of five informative cases in all tumors. Two of three cases with LOH at 3p14 had a poor prognosis, one of which also had LOH at 9p. No mutation of the K-ras gene was observed in any of these tumors. These data thus indicate that p53 overexpression might distinguish atypical carcinoid tumors from typical tumors and might therefore be useful as an adjunct modality in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary carcinoid tumors. The presence of LOH at 3p14 or 9p may thus help to identify lung cancer patients with a poor prognosis.