Migraine is associated with enhanced arterial stiffness.

Migraine is a common subtype of headache. Epidemiological studies have revealed that migraine could be an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke even in elderly subjects. Arterial stiffness is one of the major pathophysiological bases of stroke. In the present study, we cross-sectionally investigated the possible relationship between migraine and arterial stiffness in community-dwelling subjects. The study subjects were independently recruited from two sources (Group A, n=134, 68+/-5 years; Group B, n=138, 68+/-7 years). Augmentation index (AI), the ratio of augmented pressure by the reflection pressure wave to the pulse pressure, was obtained from the radial arterial waveform as an index of arterial stiffness. Brachial blood pressure was also measured simultaneously. Migraine was diagnosed using a previously validated questionnaire. The prevalence of migraine was 5.2% (Group A) and 16.7% (Group B). Subjects with migraine had higher radial AI in both Group A (migraine, 101+/-15%; other headache, 88+/-12%; no headache, 86+/-12%, p=0.003) and Group B (95+/-11%, 90+/-11%, 91+/-14%, p=0.058). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that migraine was an independent determinant of AI (beta=0.154, p=0.002) after adjustment for other confounding factors: age (beta=-0.024, p=0.654); sex (beta=0.141, p=0.069); body height (beta=-0.215, p=0.005); systolic blood pressure (beta=0.174, p=0.001); medication for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus (beta=-0.014, p=0.787); and heart rate (beta=-0.539, p<0.001). In a separate analysis by sex, migraine was also a significant determinant for AI (male, beta=0.246, p=0.019; female, beta=0.159, p=0.008). Migraine in the elderly could be a clinical manifestation of enhanced arterial stiffness.     

Three cases of retroperitoneal cystic lymphangioma

Retroperitoneal cystic lymphangioma is a rare benign tumor. Three cases of retroperitoneal cystic lymphangioma with histological proof were reported. Every case revealed similar characteristic appearances on CT, such as 1. unilocular or multilocular cystic mass with homogeneous near-water density, 2. non-enhanced or slightly enhanced wall and septum, 3. commonly thin wall without irregularity, 4. compression of surrounding organs with sharp margin. No secondary changes such as hydronephrosis and ischemic change were noted in the surrounding compressed organs, revealing that this tumor is soft and the growth is slow. Several differential diagnoses were considered, but diagnosis was not so difficult on CT, considering anatomical relations and clinical appearances.     

Analysis of factors influencing the recent decline in birth rate in Tokyo]

This study was undertaken in an attempt to find factors which affected the recent declining birth rate in Tokyo. Vital statistics of the female population, age 20-39, for the period of 1970 through 1985 for Tokyo were compared to national averages. Indices examined were birth rate, percentage of married women, birth rate for married women, and birth rate for married women by live birth order. Results thus obtained were as follows: 1. Birth rates for females aged 20-24 and 25-29 were largely dependent on percentages of married women rather than birth rates for married women both in Tokyo and in the nation as a whole, while the birth rates for females aged 30-34 and 35-39 were more dependent on birth rates for married women. 2. Percentages of married women aged 20-24 and 25-29 decreased during the observation period both in Tokyo and in the nation as a whole. 3. Birth rates for married women aged 30-34 and 35-39 dropped in the first 5 or 10 years of observation in both groups as a result of the reduction in high order live births. Thereafter, the decline changed to an upturn trend. 4. Yearly changes of birth rate, percentage of married women, birth rate for married women, birth rate for married women by live birth order, and birth rate of first child for married women appeared to have the same timing both in Tokyo and in Japan as a whole in each age category.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of omeprazole on delayed healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats

Omeprazole, a gastric mucosal proton pump inhibitor, significantly and dose-dependently prevented the delayed healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in response to repeatedly administered indomethacin to rats. Both basal and histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretions in rats with acetic acid-induced ulcers that were given indomethacin were markedly and persistently (greater than 24 hr) inhibited after 4 weeks treatment with omeprazole. The prevention of delayed ulcer healing by omeprazole appears to be due to its long-lasting antisecretory activity.     

Papillo-Choledochectomy in the Operative Management of Mucosal Neoplasms of the Periampullary Region

Two patients with mucosal cancer of the periampullary region were treated with papillocholedochectomy, which entails removal of the papilla of Vater and the whole length of the common bile duct. The neoplasm is dissected out through the plane between the duodenal circular and longitudinal muscles, deep to the sphincter of Oddi and the fibromuscular layer of the bile duct. Pathological examination showed that cancer was confined to the mucosal layer without stromal invasion, and that the operation achieved radical cure. For mucosal cancer, papillo-choledochectomy is an alternative to pancreatoduodenectomy, provided that repeated frozen-section studies confirm the completeness of excision.     

Anaplastic ganglioglioma with sarcomatous component: An immunohistochemical study and molecular analysis of p53 tumor suppressor gene

The present case report describes a case of ganglioglioma with a distinct sarcomatous component in the left temporal lobe of a 59‐year‐old Japanese man. Neoplastic neuroglial tissue contained both benign and anaplastic glial components with a MIB‐1 labeling index of 0.1% and 12.0%, respectively. Sarcomatous tissue adjacent to the anaplastic glial tissue was dominated by pleomorphic fibroblastic cells with a MIB‐1 labeling index of 10.8%. They were immunoreactive for smooth muscle actin, type IV collagen, and alpha 1 antitrypsin, but not for desmin and CD34. Interestingly, some of the sarcomatous cells were double‐positive for smooth muscle actin and GFAP. The p53 protein had accumulated in the anaplastic astrocytes and sarcomatous cells, but direct DNA sequencing of PCR products failed to detect any mutation in the p53 gene (from exon 4 to exon 10).     

Phase II study of etoposide (VP-16) in the form of intravenous injection for malignant lymphomas and acute leukemias: Hanshin Cooperative Study Group for Hematological Disorders

Twenty patients with malignant lymphomas and 12 with acute leukemias were treated with intravenous administration of etoposide, 60-100 mg/m2/day for five days, repeated for three to four weeks. Eighteen cases of malignant lymphoma and nine of acute leukemia were evaluable. CR was achieved in three cases (16.7%) and PR in four cases (22.2%) of malignant lymphoma. Although CR was not achieved in any patients with acute leukemia, and PR was in three (33.3%), it was found that etoposide was most effective for the patients with the M4 or M5 subtype in the FAB classification. The most serious adverse effect of the drug was leukopenia in patients with lymphoma. In three patients (30.0%), the leukocyte count was lower than 1,000/mm3. Gastrointestinal complications, such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea occurred in 60.7% of all patients, but were not serious. Alopecia was observed in 73.1%. Intravenous administration of etoposide was apparently effective for the patients with malignant lymphoma of the diffuse mixed type, and this efficacy found in our study was the same as that for oral administration of etoposide reported by us previously.     

Protein antigens of mycobacteria studied by quantitative immunologic techniques.

Crossed immunoelectrophoresis has great resolving power in the demonstration of immunogenic constituents of mycobacteria. The pattern with multiple precipitate lines is highly reproducible and allows precise identification of components. After the isolation of individual proteins, immunologic specificity combined with molecular weight determination and N-terminal amino acid sequencing should be used to ensure consistent identification in different laboratories. Simultaneous quantification of individual proteins in sonicates of washed bacilli and culture fluids permits the determination of a localization index, which indicates whether the proteins are cytoplasmic constituents or actively secreted. Several "new," actively secreted proteins have recently been defined, and the role of these proteins in the interaction between the bacilli and the infected host is discussed.     

Early effects of refeeding a complete diet on the translational initiation activity in rat liver slices

A complete diet containing 23% protein was fed to two-day-fasted rats. The effects of this diet on protein biosynthesis, through the examination of liver slices, was investigated. (1) Refeeding enhanced the protein-synthesizing activity with better preservation of heavy polysomes in the liver slices. Protein in the diet was necessary to induce, through refeeding, the activation of protein synthesis in the liver. (2) The incorporation of [3H]methionine into 40S subunits and 80S subunits, where "run-off" 40S and 60S subunits had been accumulated by preincubation with 2 x 10(-6) M pactamycin, was much higher in the liver slices of refed rats than in the liver slices of fasted rats. By using chain initiation inhibitors, it was shown that labeled 40S and 80S subunits were 40S and 80S initiation complexes, respectively.