Effects of fatness on the electrocardiogram in children aged 12-15 years

Using the 4-Lead Set Japanese Pediatric ECG Screening Criteria Proposal, the effects of fatness on the electrocardiograms were analyzed in 1025 junior high school children, aged 12-15 years (of whom 114 were obese). As the results show, significant differences were detected by the 1% two-sided test between the averages of the nonfat group and the middle- and high-fat groups with regard to S amplitude in leads V1-V3 for boys and girls, R amplitude in leads V4 and V5, SV1 + RV6, SV1 + RV5, and SV3 + RV3 for boys, and S amplitude in leads V4-V6 for girls. High R amplitudes were observed in leads V3 and V4 for the middle- and high-fat group of girls. When applying conventional ECG criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy to the middle- and high-fat groups of boys, the value of SV1 + RV6 greater than or equal to 4.5 mV instead of SV1 + RV6 greater than or equal to 5.0 mV is recommended.     

A Case of Tuberculous Uveitis Complicated by Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Background: Recently, the incidence of tuberculosis in compromised hosts has increased.Case: A 52-year-old man suffering from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) had pulmonary tuberculosis. On June 22, 1996, we found a disc-sized choroidal lesion with milky appearance on the paramacular in his right eye. After 1 month, a similar choroidal lesion was found near the disc in the same eye. In spite of chemotherapy for MDS and antituberculosis medications, those choroidal lesions gradually enlarged. In November, satellite lesions were found around them. Some retinal exudates and hemorrhage were also detected in both eyes. He died on April 6, 1997. We found Langhan's giant cells in the choroid on the specimen of his eyes. So we judged the choroidal lesions to be tuberculous uveitis.Conclusion: This case showed choroidal tuberculosis and choroidal miliary tuberculosis in the same eye that were resistant to medications. We thought resistance to medication was due to destruction of the immune system by MDS.     

Involvement of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Kaposi's Sarcoma Associated with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

To examine the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the development of edema associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), we exploited animal model systems to detect the activity that induces vascular hyper-permeability (VHP) using cultured AIDS-KS spindle cells. Cultured AIDS-KS spindle cells and conditioned medium (AIDS-KS-CM) that had been semi-purified through a heparin affinity column were tested for the ability to induce VHP in animals. The AIDS-KS spindle cells and AIDS-KS-CM induced VHP that was histamine-independent. The VHP-inducing activity was detected in the 0.5 M NaCl fraction from the heparin affinity column and was blocked by anti-VEGF neutralizing antibody. In addition, the production of VEGF was demonstrated in fresh AIDS-KS tissue as well as in cultured AIDS-KS cells, while control cells were negative for VEGF production. From these observations, we concluded that AIDS-KS cells produce a factor(s) that promotes VHP, and this factor could be VEGF.     

SHORT COMMUNICATION: Inhibitory effects of d-limonene on the development of colonic aberrant crypt foci induced by azoxymethane in F344 rats

The modifying effect of the monoterpenoid d-limonene in drinkingwater on the development of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonicaberrant crypt foci (ACF) was investigated in male F344 rats.The effects of d-limonene intake on ornithine decarboxylase(ODC) activity and on the silver stained nucleolar organizerregion protein (AgNOR) count in the colonic mucosa were alsoestimated. Animals were given 3 weekly s.c. injections of AOM(15mg/kg body wt) to induce ACF. These rats were treated withor without 0.5% d-limonene in the drinking water, starting 1week before the first dosing with AOM. All rats were killed2 weeks after the last AOM injection, to measure the numberof ACF, ODC activity and AgNOR count/ nucleus in the colon.In rats given AOM and d-limonene the frequencies of ACF andaberrant crypts/colon, and aberrant crypts/focus were significantlydecreased compared with those of rats given AOM alone (P <0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001 respectively). Number ofAgNOR counts/nucleus of rats treated with AOM and d-limonenewas significantly smaller than that of rats treated with AOMalone (P < 0.001). These results suggest that the monoterpenoidd-limonene might be a chemopreventive agent for colonic carcinogenesisin rats.     

A dynamic test of hormonal sensitivity of gynecologic malignancy by use of an antiestrogen, tamoxifen

To assess the hormonal sensitivity of tumors, progestin receptor levels in the tumor were monitored before and after tamoxifen, 40 mg/day for 7 days in patients with various gynecologic malignancies. Tamoxifen induced progestin receptors in two of eight-cases of endometrial cancer, four of eight cases of cervical epidermoid cancer, and two of seven cases of cervical adenocarcinoma. Induction of progestin receptors did not occur in one case of uterine mixed müllerian tumor and there were no measured progestin receptors after tamoxifen treatment in three cases of ovarian cancer and in one case of benign ovarian tumor. Because induction of progestin receptors is the best-documented response of estrogen target cells to estrogenic stimuli, this induction of progestin receptor with tamoxifen may be considered to indicate the estrogen sensitivity of a tumor. Further study is warranted to determine whether hormonal sensitivity assessed by the use of tamoxifen might serve to select tumors likely to respond to hormonal therapy.     

Spontaneous production of interleukin-1-like factors from pregnant rabbit uterine cervix

Uterine cervical explants in culture from pregnant rabbits at term spontaneously synthesized and secreted three species of interleukin-1-like factors in culture medium. The addition of the exogenous mitogen lipopolysaccharide to the culture system induced further release of these factors. However, these phenomena were not observed with explants from nonpregnant cervices. The molecular weights of these factors estimated by gel filtration were approximately 49, 22, and 12 kDa, respectively, and were identical to those of interleukin-1 from rabbit macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. These results indicate that interleukin-1-like factors are involved in cervical ripening and dilatation, especially in the acceleration of collagenase production, at term.     

Effects of prolactin on gametes and zygotes during in vitro fertilization in mice

Hyperprolactinemia is one of the major causative factors of infertility. However, the effect of prolactin on gametes during in vitro fertilization has not been elucidated. In the present study, the effects of mouse prolactin on the motility of spermatozoa, in vitro fertilization, and in vitro development of the zygote were investigated in mice using media containing three different concentrations (10, 50, and 100 ng/ml) of mouse prolactin. The development of unfertilized and fertilized oocytes (zygotes) was not affected in vitro by prolactin regardless of the amount of prolactin added to culture media. However, the fertilizing capacity of the spermatozoa was suppressed when they were preincubated for 90 min in culture media containing prolactin at concentrations of 50 and 100 ng/ml. The motility of spermatozoa was not affected by prolactin regardless of the concentration of prolactin used for preincubation. The present study indicates that prolactin may have some effects on the capacitation process of spermatozoa in vitro. This result should be taken into consideration in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer procedures in humans.     

Early normal menstrual cycle pattern and the development of uterine leiomyomas

It is unclear if women who develop uterine leiomyomas have had menstrual regularity or irregularity in their reproductive life. This case-control study examines the recalled menstrual cycle patterns throughout the reproductive life among women requiring hysterectomy for myomas. One hundred twenty-two women with myomas and 244 age-matched healthy controls without myomas were enrolled in Japan. The incidence of normal menstrual cycle pattern in their teens among patients with myoma was significantly higher than that among healthy controls (p < 0.01). The subset results for parous women were the same as those for all subjects. The size of the uterus in myoma patients with teenage menstrual regularity was not larger than in those with teenage menstrual irregularity. Women who developed myomas later in life tended to have early normal menstrual cycle pattern. Early menstrual regularity may enhance leiomyoma growth in early reproductive life.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of the eustachian tube. A correlative anatomical study

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the eustachian tube (auditory tube) was performed in normal subjects and in a patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The MR images obtained in an anteriorly tilted transaxial plane parallel to the eustachian tubes were compared with serial slices of a cadaver specimen. The eustachian tube cartilage, mucous lining of the eustachian tube, the lateral pharyngeal recess, the tensor veli palatini muscle, and the levator veli palatini muscle were identified in MR images using anatomical relationships. A patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma is described to demonstrate an example of topographical morbid changes appearing around the eustachian tube.     

Localization and fine structure of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-like immunoreactive nerve fibres in the organ of Corti of guinea pigs by immunohistochemistry

The localization and fine structure of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-like immunoreactive (CGRPI) fibres in the guinea pig cochlea were examined using immunohistochemistry. Numerous CGRPI fibres were located in the inner spiral bundle corresponding to the lateral system of the olivocochlear bundle. Immunoelectron microscopic analysis demonstrated that the CGRPI fibres belonged to the efferent terminals and some of them made synaptic contacts with peripheral neurites of the auditory nerve. These findings suggested that the olivocochlear CGRP neuron system influenced the neural activity of the auditory nerve, which conveys auditory information from the cochlea to the central nervous system.