Effects of sodium and temperature on tension in isolated canine coronary artery

The effects of sodium and temperature on tension of isolated canine coronary arterial strips were studied.In 20mEq·l ^–1 K solution, the strength of tension was inversely related to the Na concentration. At 37°C, the tension was significantly increased at 70mEq·l ^–1 Na and below. The tension was gradually suppressed by lowering of the temperature from 37°C to 10°C. At 10°C, tension did not developed significantly at Na concentrations between 127mEq·l ^–1 and 12mEq·l ^–1.It was concluded that the decrease in Na concentrations increased the tension of the canine coronary artery and the lowering of temperature supressed the tension inducted by the decrease in Na concentrations.(Yoshida K, Fujii Y, Ina H, et al.: Effects of sodium and temperature on tension in isolated canine coronary artery. J Anesth 5: 56–59, 1991)     

Cell cycle specific fluctuations of adenosine 3',5' -monophosphate and prostaglandin binding in synchronized mastocytoma P-815 cells

Endogenous adenosine 3',5' -monophosphate (cAMP) levels in mastocytoma P-815 cells, synchronized either at the G1/S transition by amethopterin- or double thymidine-block or in mitosis by colcemid block, were highest during late S and early G2 phases and lowest during mitosis. These cell cycle-dependent changes in cAMP levels were largely accounted for by changes in adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase activities. Similar fluctuations occurred simultaneously with specific prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) binding, histidine decarboxylase activity, histamine content, and [35S]SO-2(4) incorporation into glycosaminoglycans of the cells. In addition, endogenous levels of the E group of prostaglandins (PGEs) and "14C]carachiodonic acid incorporations into PGE, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol also exhibited fluctuation patterns similar to that of cAMP levels. Since cAMP levels still fluctuated in a serum-depleted medium where DNA synthesis and cell division were inhibited, endogeneous levels of prostaglandin and cAMP appeared not to be regulated solely by serum factor(s). Exposure of cells at G1/S transition to 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (MIX) resulted in 10-fold elevation of cAMP levels throughout the cell cycle without affecting DNA synthesis. On the other hand, PGE1 and/or MIX added at late S phase elevated cAMP levels, prolonged C2 phase and retarded the cell division, but these agents added at the beginning of mitosis elevated cAMP levels without affecting the cell division. These results suggest that prostaglandin newly synthesized by the increased metabolism of phospholipids promote the cAMP synthesis via their binding to the receptors and thereby control the division and phenotypic expression of mastocytoma P-815 cells.     

Treatment by corticosteroid and plasma exchange in 5 cases of renal cholesterol embolic disease

Cholesterol arterial embolization is a systemic disease resulting from cholesterol crystal embolization to multiple organs, including the kidney, skin, brain, eye, gastrointestinal tract and extremities. In general, it is associated with high morbidity and mortality, but no optimal treatment has yet been developed. In this paper, we report five patients with cholesterol atheroembolic renal failure. In three of the five patients, combined therapy with corticosteroids and plasma exchange was performed. The three patients survived. On the other hand, the two remaining patients died of multifactorial causes. In this report, the literature on steroid therapy for cholesterol atheroembolic renal disease is reviewed and the efficacy of combined therapy by use of corticosteroids and plasma exchange is evaluated.     

Clipping of an aneurysm of the posterior cerebral artery via the transcortical transchoroidal-fissure approach: a case report

A 65-year-old woman suddenly developed severe headache with nausea. Computed tomographic scans revealed a diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage with thick hematoma of the left ambient cistern. Cerebral angiogram did not show any aneurysm. On the 7th day after admission, 3D-CT angiogram showed an aneurysm of the left posterior cerebral artery. On the 14th day, axial and coronal magnetic resonance images showed the aneurysm, surrounding structures and the choroidal fissure. On the 26th day after admission, successful neck clipping was performed through the temporal horn via the inferior temporal gyrus. The postoperative course was uneventful except for transient aphasia. This approach may be preferable in such cases, because it protects the brain from the detrimental effects of strong temporal retraction and provides a wider working space. In our case, thin slice MRI and MRA showing the aneurysm in the ambient cistern and the choroidal fissure were useful for deciding the appropriate approach.     

Perineural spreading along the trigeminal nerve in a patient with primary intracranial malignant lymphoma: a case report

We report a rare primary intracranial malignant lymphoma which spread along the trigeminal nerve through the skull base foramen. The patient was a 50-year-old woman, who was diagnosed as having a primary intracranial malignant lymphoma in the right temporal lobe and had undergone an operation and radiation 5 years previously. The tumor was reduced in size and no recurrent tumor could be detected for 5 years. The patient complained of left face swelling and CT scan revealed a large mass in the pterygopalatine fossa. MRI revealed the recurrent tumor in the left Meckel's cave with extension into the cavernous sinus. The tumor extended through the foramen ovale into the pterygopalatine fossa, through the superior orbital fissure into the orbital cavity and through the infraorbital fossa into the face subcutaneously. Biopsy of the subcutaneous tumor was carried out and the pathological diagnosis was malignant lymphoma, B cell type, which was identical with the initial tumor. MRI revealed the enlarged trigeminal nerve and 3D-CT revealed the enlargement of the infraorbital fossa and the foramen ovale. We suspected that primary intracranial malignant lymphoma had recurred in the left Meckel's cave and the tumor had spread along the peripheral three divisions of the trigeminal nerve. Perineural spreading along the trigeminal nerve passing through the skull base in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma is not rare, but this rarely occurs in the case of intracranial tumors.     

Expression level of valosin-containing protein (VCP) as a prognostic marker for gingival squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Valosin-containing protein (VCP) is associated with anti-apoptotic function and metastasis via activation of the nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathway. In the present study, association of VCP expression with prognosis of gingival squamous cell carcinoma (GSCC) was examined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: VCP expression in 74 patients with GSCC (34 males and 40 females) with ages ranging from 42 to 85 (median 66) years was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, in which staining intensity in tumor cells was categorized as either weaker (level 1) or equal to/stronger (level 2) than that in the endothelial cells. RESULTS: Twenty-four (32.4%) cases showed level 1 and 50 (67.6%) level 2 VCP expression. Patients with level 1 GSCC showed a significantly better 5-year survival rate than those with level 2 GSCC (5-year overall survival: 100% versus 84.9%, P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed VCP expression level, lymph node metastasis and pT(TNM) to be independent factors for overall survival. Patients with GSCC at stages I and II showed favorable prognosis regardless of VCP expression status, whereas at stages III and IV, patients with level 1 VCP expression showed better survival rates than those with level 2 expression. CONCLUSION: Prognostic significance of VCP expression level in GSCC was demonstrated.     

Expression level of valosin-containing protein is strongly associated with progression and prognosis of gastric carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Valosin-containing protein (VCP; also known as p97) was shown to be associated with antiapoptotic function and metastasis via activation of nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathway. In this study, association of VCP expression with recurrence of gastric carcinoma (GC), in which lymphatic vessels are the main route of spread, was examined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: VCP expression in 330 patients with GC (242 males and 88 females) with ages ranging from 26 to 81 years (median, 60 years) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, in which staining intensity in tumor cells was categorized as weaker (level 1) or equal to or stronger (level 2) than that in endothelial cells. RESULTS: Ninety-four (28.7%) patient cases showed level 1 and 233 patient cases (71.3%) showed level 2 VCP expression. Patients with level 2 expression showed higher rates of large tumor size (P <.0001), undifferentiated histologic subtype (P <.05), presence of vascular and lymphatic invasion (P <.0001 for both), presence of lymph node metastasis (P <.0001), deep tumor invasion (P <.0001), and poorer disease-free and overall survivals (P <.0001 for both) compared with those with level 1 VCP expression. Multivariate analysis revealed VCP expression level as an independent prognosticator for disease-free and overall survival. VCP level was an indicator for disease-free and overall survival in the early (pT1; P <.01 and P <.05, respectively) and advanced (pT2-4; P <.05 for both) group of pathologic tumor-node-metastasis system classification. CONCLUSION: The prognostic significance of VCP expression level in GC was demonstrated.     

Effect of facial affect stimuli on auditory and visual P300 in healthy subjects

This study investigated whether or not P300 components are influenced by emotional affect such as sadness and pleasure in twenty healthy subjects and whether or not the P300 effects of facial affect stimuli are influenced by auditory and visual stimulus modalities. Written informed consent was taken from each subject before the study. Each subject was asked to stare at a simple picture of a facial expression (crying or smiling faces) during the auditory and visual oddball tasks. P300 amplitude and area were significantly larger when viewing a crying face (sadness) than a smiling face (pleasure) under both conditions with auditory and visual stimulus. P300 latency was significantly longer while viewing sadness than while viewing pleasure only with auditory stimuli. Reaction time was not changed by facial stimuli. Amplitude and area of P300 were significantly larger in women than men in their modalities, but the effects of facial affect on P300 amplitude and area in women were similar to those in men. These results suggest that amplitude and area of P300 with both modalities recorded while viewing sadness may induce larger attentional resource than pleasure. Gender was a less potent influence of facial expression on P300 parameters. The influence of facial emotion may be important to investigate the recognition processes of subjects.