Crossed cerebellar hypoperfusion in unilateral major cerebral artery occlusive disorders.

We evaluated regional blood flow and oxygen metabolism in the cerebral and cerebellar cortices of 15 patients with unilateral major cerebral artery occlusive disorders with PET. These patients showed a cortical blood flow asymmetry in middle cerebral artery distribution. Only subcortical abnormalities were detected on computed tomography. Nine patients showed crossed cerebellar hypoperfusion, a reduction in contralateral cerebellar blood flow, while six did not. No difference in the degree of cerebral blood flow asymmetry existed between the two patient groups. However, oxygen metabolism asymmetry was more pronounced and was more closely matched to blood flow asymmetry in patients with crossed cerebellar hypoperfusion. These findings suggest that a major cause of cerebral cortical blood flow reduction is reduced metabolic demand in patients with crossed cerebellar hypoperfusion. Crossed cerebellar hypoperfusion may have clinical significance as a reflection of the cerebral metabolic state on blood flow images.     

Can susceptibility to carcinoid tumors be inherited?

Previously, all carcinoid tumors were considered to occur sporadically. We present an extremely rare series of three first-degree relatives in two generations with proximal duodenal carcinoid tumors and other family-associated neoplasms. This unusual circumstance, which has never been described previously, represents the sixth case of familial clustering of carcinoid tumors reported in the world's literature.     

Scopolamine abolishes cerebral blood flow response to somatosensory stimulation in anesthetized cats: PET study

The effect of the cholinergic blocker, scopolamine on the cerebral blood flow (CBF) response to vibrotactile stimulation of a fore paw was studied using high-resolution positron emission tomography and H₂¹⁵O in 5 pentobarbital-anesthetized cats. Before scopolamine injection, the CBF response to the stimulation was found in the contralateral somatosensory cortex (mean ratio (contralateral/ipsilateral) control: stimulated1.02 ± 0.02: 1.17 ± 0.05; P < 0.01). After intravenous injection of scopolamine (0.35 mg/kg), the CBF response was abolished. However, the cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRGlu) response to the same stimulation was unchanged after scopolamine injection in the same cats. We concluded that scopolamine abolishes the CBF response but not neuronal response to stimulation. We suggest that cholinergic mechanisms may play an important role for mediating CBF coupling to neuronal activity during physiological stimulation.     

Antiinflammatory properties of the new antirheumatic agent 4-acetylaminophenylacetic acid

The antiinflammatory activity of 4-acetylaminophenylacetic acid (MS-932) was investigated. MS-932 did not suppress the acute inflammation of carrageenin-induced paw edema in rats or of primary swelling in adjuvant arthritic rats. However, prophylactic treatment with MS-932 inhibited secondary inflammation in adjuvant arthritic rats. MS-932 also restored to normal the weight of the spleen and the serum albumin/globulin ratio of adjuvant arthritic rats. In addition to its prophylactic effect, MS-932 had a therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis. In in vitro tests, MS-932 did not inhibit prostaglandin E2 biosynthesis from arachidonic acid by sheep seminal vesicle microsomal enzyme or superoxide generation by guinea pig neutrophils stimulated with opsonized zymosan. MS-932 had no analgesic effect in mice and no antipyretic effect in rats. These results indicate that MS-932 suppresses adjuvant arthritis through modulation of the immune system.     

Anatomy and pathophysiology of the popliteal tendon area in the lateral meniscus: 1. Arthroscopic and anatomical investigation

An arthroscopic and anatomical investigation was performed to define the abnormal conditions of the popliteal tendon area in a lateral meniscus. Arthroscopic findings for 100 patients and anatomical observations of 10 amputated knees were analyzed. Five of the 10 dissected menisci were also examined histologically. Menisco-tibial coronary ligaments were classified into two types, as follows: type I--a coronary ligament covering an entire popliteal tendon beneath the meniscus; type II--a popliteal tendon visible beneath the meniscus through defects of the coronary ligament. Twenty-one of 100 cases were classified as type I, and 79 were classified as type II. Three of the 10 anatomical dissections were type I, and the remaining 7 were type II. Menisci in which the type I coronary ligaments were thought to be torn and menisci with type II coronary ligaments showed a rather marked mobility, but no conclusion could be reached.     

Localized wall thickening of the gallbladder mimicking a neoplasm

Clinical diagnosis of chronic cholecystitis is made based on diffuse hyperechoic thickening of the gallbladder wall as shown by ultrasonographic examination. We herein report three cases of chronic cholecystitis showing localized hypoechoic thickening of the gallbladder wall that mimicked gallbladder cancer by ultrasonography. Histologically, hypertrophy of the muscularis propria was a common characteristic finding in these three patients. A smooth surface of the inner hypoechoic layer of the thickened wall was considered to be a reliable finding in the differential diagnosis between this type of chronic cholecystitis and gallbladder cancer.     

Comparison of Plasma Metabolite Concentrations and Enzyme Activities in Beef Cattle Raised by Different Feeding Systems in Korea,Japan and New Zealand

Concentrations of metabolites and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and activities of enzymes related to energy metabolism were measured in plasma of Korean and Japanese beef cattle, which were raised by the indoor feeding system programmed to feed larger amount of roughage in their growing periods and larger amount of concentrate diet in their finishing periods (Japanese feeding system), and grazing New Zealand beef cattle. By the Japanese beef grading system, Korean and Japanese beef cattle showed high beef quality score, average grade 3.3 and 3.6, respectively. The plasma free fatty acid and lactate concentrations and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in Korean beef cattle were significantly higher than those in Japanese beef cattle. The plasma lactate concentration in Korean beef cattle was 8.40 mmol/l, which was similar to the values observed in lactic acidosis. The higher activities of plasma LDH, MDH and AST may indicate slight liver damage by slightly acidotic conditions in Korean beef cattle. New Zealand beef cattle fed on pasture which they harvest by grazing showed significantly lower plasma glucose, cholesterol, lactate and IRI concentrations and enzyme activities than those in Korean and Japanese beef cattle fed on larger amount of concentrate diets. Plasma metabolite concentrations and energy metabolism‐related enzyme activities may be good indicators for evaluating metabolic conditions of beef cattle raised by different feeding systems.     

Solitary right ventricle metastasis by renal cell carcinoma.

A 57-year-old man with a history of renal cell carcinoma presented with presyncope. He underwent nephrectomy years earlier followed by HLA-matched allogeneic peripheral-blood stem-cell transplantation. Echocardiographic investigation revealed a solitary right ventricle mass without contiguous vena caval or right atrial involvement. The mass was pathologically confirmed to be metastatic carcinoma in the right ventricular cavity. This case highlights the need to consider an underlying neoplastic syndrome in patients presenting isolated right ventricle mass by echocardiography.