Obliterative portal venopathy: A comparative study of 184 cases of extrahepatic portal obstruction and 469 cases of idiopathic portal hypertension

Abstract A total of 184 cases of extrahepatic portal obstruction (EHPO), mostly demonstrated by intraoperative portography and studied at 17 institutes during the period 1957–1983, were compared with 469 cases of idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) similarly studied. Of the cases of EHPO, there were 101 males and 83 females; 93 were under 20 years of age and the average age was 25.9 years (i.e. much younger than that of IPH cases). There were two age peaks, one before age 19 years and the other at age 40–49 years. One out of three adult cases had a history of abdominal surgery, but otherwise the aetiologic factor was difficult to elicit. Bleeding was the initial symptom in the majority, and splenectomy and haematological findings of hypersplenism were less pronounced compared with IPH. Liver function tests were almost always normal. The liver appeared normal macroscopically in 69% and histologically in 35%. The changes seen in the remainder were similar to those in IPH; they were less frequent in young patients than in cases above age 20 years. Compared with IPH, the wedged hepatic venous pressure in patients with EHPO was lower and the gradient from the portal venous pressure was greater. It is concluded that extrahepatic portal obstruction is less common compared with IPH in Japan, and that there are cases particularly among adults that present clinicopathological features very similar to those of IPH. It is unclear at present whether these two disorders represent two different disease entities, or whether they represent one disorder with differences in the site of involvement along the portal vein system.     

Sleep problems in the aged in relation to senility

Abstract As a part of an epidemiologic survey of dementia in a community of aged persons, correlation between sleep complaints and physical illness and senility were studied. A total of 3302 randomly sampled aged individuals (aged 65 yean) were studied using a questionnaire. In this sample the prevalence of poor sleep and habitual snoring did not increase with age. The prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness showed an increase with age. Male predominance of habitual snoring and female predominance of poor sleep were observed. Female predominance of excessive daytime sleepiness was noted among the aged 70 and over. Age-related excessive daytime sleepiness was significantly correlated with senility.     

Remaining mandibular third molars in an adult population

summary Although tooth loss with age has been extensively investigated, there appears to be no literature on the relationship of age to remaining mandibular third molars. The study showed that as age increases so does the frequency of absent vertically erupted mandibular third molars. However, no correlation was found between age and loss of mandibular impacted third molars in men of 71 years of age or older. The evidence presented here suggests that impacted mandibular third molars, which have not been infected, may be more likely to remain compared with other teeth at potential risk.     

The gene frequency of SB alleles in the Japanese population

The gene frequency (+/- SD) of SB alleles was estimated in the Japanese population as follows: SB1 0.00, SB2 0.195 +/- 0.027, SB3 0.070 +/- 0.017, SB4 0.091 +/- 0.019, SB5 0.335 +/- 0.034 and SB blank 0.308 +/- 0.035. The absence of SB1 allele, decrease of SB4 allele and increase of SB5 allele are characteristic features of the SB system in the Japanese population as compared with Caucasians.     

EFFECT OF FUSARIC ACID (A DOPAMINE β-HYDROXYLASE INHIBITOR) ON PHAEOCHROMOCYTOMA

Fusaric acid, an inhibitor of dopamine beta-hydroxylase, which converts dopamine to noradrenaline, lowered the blood pressure and induced a subjective improvement in patients with phaeochromocytoma. These effects may be due either to an impairment of catecholamine biosynthesis or to a direct action on the blood vessels. The use of this drug in the treatment of patients with inoperable malignant phaeochromocytoma or neuroblastoma may improve symptoms and prolong survival.     

Establishment of a Long-Term Cultured Suppressor T-Cell Line Specific for Guanosine

Induction of suppressor cells specific for guanosine in C57BL/6 mice with syngeneic spleen cells coupled with guanosine was demonstrated. Spleen cells from mice that had been tolerized by the injection of guanosine-coupled syngeneic spleen cells (G-SC) were repeatedly stimulated with mitomycin C-treated G-SC (MMC-G-SC) in vitro. These cells effectively suppressed the secondary in vitro response to guanosine-keyhole limpet haemocyanin (G-KLH) but did not suppress the response to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC). From these cell populations a long-term-cultured suppressor T-cell line specific for guanosine was established by using interleukin-2 and MMC-G-SC. This cell line suppressed the response to G-KLH but did not suppress the response to trinitrophenyl-KLH and SRBC. The suppressive effect was completely eliminated by treatment with anti-Thy 1.2 and complement.